Influence of Contrast Effects on Attractiveness of Individual Faces and Facial Prototypes

This study investigated the influence of attractiveness contrast effects on individual and prototypical faces. In two experimental conditions, males (N= 38, M age = 19.21 years) and females (N= 78, M age = 19.13 years) were adapted to high or low attractive opposite-sex faces. Following adaptation, participants responded to a mate selection questionnaire and rated individual faces on attractiveness. Participants also rated prototypes on attractiveness and familiarity, either during the same session (males and females) or after a 1 week delay (females). Results indicated a weak contrast effect for male participants\u27 attractiveness ratings for individual faces but not for prototypes. For females, a weak contrast effect was found for individual faces and prototypes in the low attractive adaptation condition only. Participants found a majority of the prototypes familiar with high degrees of confidence, even after a delay. Mate selection factors, consisting of ability to compete and mate attractiveness standards, were related to participants\u27 self-assessed attractiveness