Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-2lccl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T17:28:58.529Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Explanations for attractiveness-related positive biases in an evolutionary perspective of life history theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2017

Bin-Bin Chen*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China. chenbinbin@fudan.edu.cnhttp://ice.ssdpp.fudan.edu.cn/binbinchen/

Abstract

The mating-related evolutionary explanation that Maestripieri et al. offer does not apply to (1) infants' positive biases toward attractive individuals and (2) adults' positive biases toward attractive infants and children. They are best understood when integrated into an evolutionary life history framework. I argue that the life history of positive biases toward attractive individuals is driven by fundamental trade-offs made throughout development.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agthe, M., Spörrle, M., Frey, D., Walper, S. & Maner, J. K. (2013) When romance and rivalry awaken: Attractiveness-based social judgment biases emerge at adolescence. Human Nature 24(2):182–95.Google Scholar
Allen, R., Wasserman, G. A. & Seidman, S. (1990) Children with congenital anomalies: The preschool period. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 15:327–45.Google Scholar
Barden, R. C., Ford, M. E., Jensen, A. G., Rogers-Salyer, M. & Salyer, K. E. (1989) Effects of craniofacial deformity in infancy on the quality of mother-infant interactions. Child Development 60:819–24.Google Scholar
Beaulieu, D. A. & Bugental, D. (2008) Contingent parental investment: An evolutionary framework for understanding early interaction between mothers and children. Evolution and Human Behavior 29:249–55.Google Scholar
Berry, D. S. & McArthur, L. Z. (1986) Perceiving character in faces: The impact of age-related craniofacial changes on social perception. Psychological Bulletin 100:318.Google Scholar
Berscheid, E. & Walster, E. (1974) Physical attractiveness. In: Advances in experimental social psychology, vol. 7, ed. Berkowilz, L., pp. 157216. Academic Press.Google Scholar
Bogin, B. A. (1997) Evolutionary hypotheses for human childhood. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 40:6389.3.0.CO;2-8>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1969) Attachment and loss. Vol. 1. Attachment. Basic Books.Google Scholar
Chen, B.-B. & Chang, L. (2012) Adaptive insecure attachment and resource control strategies during middle childhood. International Journal of Behavioral Development 36:389–97.Google Scholar
Del Giudice, M., Gangestad, S. W. & Kaplan, H. S. (2015) Life history theory and evolutionary psychology. In: The handbook of evolutionary psychology. Vol. 1. Foundations, 2nd edition, ed. Buss, D. M., pp. 88114. Wiley.Google Scholar
Dion, K. K. (1973) Young children's stereotyping of facial attractiveness. Developmental Psychology 9:183–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Field, T. M. & Vega-Lahr, N. (1984) Early interactions between infants with cranio-facial anomalies and their mothers. Infant Behavior & Development 7:527–30.Google Scholar
Griskevicius, V., Delton, A. W., Robertson, T. E. & Tybur, J. M. (2011) Environmental contingency in life history strategies: The influence of mortality and socioeconomic status on reproductive timing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 100:241–54.Google Scholar
Hill, K. & Kaplan, H. (1999) Life history traits in humans: Theory and empirical studies. Annual Review of Anthropology 28:397430.Google Scholar
Kenrick, D. T., Griskevicius, V., Neuberg, S. L. & Schaller, M. (2010) Renovating the pyramid of needs: Contemporary extensions built upon ancient foundations. Perspectives on Psychological Science 5:292314.Google Scholar
Kościński, K. (2011) Life history of female preferences for male faces. Human Nature 22:416–38.Google Scholar
Langlois, J. H., Ritter, J. M., Casey, R. J. & Sawin, D. B. (1995) Infant attractiveness predicts maternal behaviors and attitudes. Developmental Psychology 31:464–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Langlois, J. H., Ritter, J. M., Roggman, L. A. & Vaughn, L. S. (1991) Facial diversity and infant preferences for attractive faces. Developmental Psychology 27:7984.Google Scholar
Langlois, J. H., Roggman, L. A. & Rieser-Danner, L. A. (1990) Infants' differential social responses to attractive and unattractive faces. Developmental Psychology 26:153–59.Google Scholar
Rhodes, G. (2006) The evolutionary psychology of facial beauty. Annual Review of Psychology 57:199266.Google Scholar
Rhodes, G., Zebrowitz, L. A., Clark, A., Kalick, S. M., Hightower, A. & McKay, R. (2001b) Do facial averageness and symmetry signal health? Evolution and Human Behavior 22:3146.Google Scholar
Ritter, J. M., Casey, R. J. & Langlois, J. H. (1991) Adults' responses to infants varying in appearance of age and attractiveness. Child Development 62:6882.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saxton, T. K., Caryl, P. G. & Roberts, S. C. (2006) Vocal and facial attractiveness judgments of children, adolescents and adults: The ontogeny of mate choice. Ethology 112:1179–85.Google Scholar
Sugiyama, L. S. (2015) Physical attractiveness: An adaptationist perspective. In: The handbook of evolutionary psychology, ed. Buss, D. M., pp. 317384. Wiley.Google Scholar