The Attraction Equation

The attraction between two people might seem like an intangible, indefinable thing but that hasn’t stopped an exhaustive search to discover the basis of human attraction. Here we take a look at the components of that complex attraction equation.

- Terry Robson

Of all the mysteries science has attempted to unravel, among the most complex is what makes one person attractive to another. There are layers of evolutionary and environmental factors that influence what draws you to another person, so let’s dive in and start peeling back those layers, as we uncover the elements that add up to attraction.

Beauty in the eye

If you are into photography, graphic design or filmmaking you will certainly have heard of the “rule of thirds” and probably also of the “golden ratio”. Whether the golden ratio being present is what makes a face attractive is open to interpretation because it all depends on where you start your measuring, but what has been found is that there are definite facial ratios that we do find appealing.

For instance, what we regard as attractive in a face relates to the distance between eyes and mouth. Female Caucasian faces for example are judged as being beautiful when the vertical distance between the eyes and mouth is approximately 36 percent of the face’s total length and the horizontal distance between the eyes is around 46 percent of the face’s width. The interesting thing about these proportions is that they are also the average face proportions of the human face.

In addition to these proportions, faces judged to be attractive, regardless of culture, are highly symmetrical. This symmetry is thought to reflect favourable exposure to hormonal levels and a comfortable environment while in the womb. Similarly, an average face in terms of proportions also indicates “normal” circumstances while growing.