Do we read character in faces? What information do faces actually provide? Why do we associate certain facial qualities with particular character traits? What are the social and psychological consequences of reading character in faces? Zebrowitz unmasks the face and provides the first systematic, scientific account of our tendency to judge people b

Do we read character in faces? What information do faces actually provide? Why do we associate certain facial qualities with particular character traits? What are the social and psychological consequences of reading character in faces? Zebrowitz unmasks the face and provides the first systematic, scientific account of our tendency to judge people by their appearance. Offering an in-depth analysis of two appearance qualities that influence our impressions of others--"babyfaceness" and "attractiveness"--and an account of these impressions, Zebrowitz has written an accessible and valuable book for professionals and general readers alike.The assumption that people's faces provide a window to their inner nature has a long and distinguished history, eloquently expressed in the works of ancient philosophers, like Aristotle, and great writers, like Shakespeare. Zebrowitz examines this assumption, focusing on four central points. She shows that facial appearance, particularly babyfaceness and attractiveness, has a strong impact on how we perceive an individual's character traits and on social outcomes in the workplace, in the criminal justice system, and in other settings. She proposes that facial stereotypes derive from evolutionarily adaptive reactions to useful information that faces can provide. She assesses the accuracy of facial stereotypes in light of plausible links between appearance and character. Finally, Zebrowitz suggests ways to counteract the consequences of reading faces.

Using evolutionary, cognitive, and social psychology, this volume examines the issues raised by the question, What makes some faces more attractive than others? The authors challenge the views that beauty is simply in the eye of the beholder, that it is idiosyncratic, and that it is nothing more than an artifact of culture. They argue instead that there are a variety of biological, social, motivational, and developmental issues involved in facial attractiveness. By exploring attractiveness and preference from these various perspectives, this collection offers profound and unique insight on how and why we are attracted to certain facial types, and how that attraction can influence our social interaction.

Some of the ideas presented in "Facial Attractiveness" are surprising, others controversial, and others even paradoxical. Combined, however, they offer a new perspective on age-old questions of attraction, beauty and preference. Each author challenges standard assumptions about beauty, and encourages the reader to explore new trends in evolutionary, social, and cognitive psychology in search of a more coherent answer to the questions of what makes a face attractive and why.