Facial Averageness: Why 'Average' Faces Are Attractive

What is averageness?

Since Langlois and Roggman's classic 1990 study we have known that a computer-averaged composite of many faces is judged more attractive than most of its components. The reason is not "plainness" but that average faces are close to the prototype and are processed more fluently by the brain.

Measurement

MORFOSAI computes averageness from the distance of 20+ proportional measurements to the demographic reference range. Every measurement inside the range scores 100; the score decays with distance.

What it means

High averageness is a strong foundation but not sufficient by itself: the most attractive faces usually combine averageness with slightly exaggerated dimorphic traits (fuller lips and larger eyes in women, a more defined jaw in men).

Non-surgical levers

• Brow position and shape
• Hair framing and the perception of facial proportions
• Skin quality (homogeneity, texture)