ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R

Advances in Psychological Science ›› 2013, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (12): 2144-2153.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2013.02144

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Influential Factors of Facial Attractiveness: The Observer Hypothesis

KOU Hui;SU Yanhua;ZHANG Yan;KONG Fanchang;HU Yuanyan;WANG Yang;CHEN Hong   

  1. (1 Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China) (2 Educational Science Department, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China) (3 Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior Ministry of Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China) (4 Department of Education, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China)
  • Received:2013-03-12 Online:2013-12-15 Published:2013-12-15
  • Contact: CHEN Hong

Abstract:

Previous researches suggested two assumptions about the influential factors of facial attractiveness, the owner hypothesis and the observer hypothesis. However, most researches focused on the owner hypothesis. Concentrating on the observer hypothesis, a narrative review was performed on previous related researches, elaborating on influential factors of facial attractiveness, including biological factors, psychological and behavioral factors and social factors of observers. The owner hypothesis was explained by evolutionary, social cultural and cognitive factors. The direction of future researches in the field was also discussed.

Key words: facial attractiveness, observer hypothesis, biological factors, psychological factors, social factors