Does your height determine what faces you find attractive? According to an older study getting buzz on social media, it might.
Research has found that, apparently, tall and short people have different preferences when it comes to facial beauty. According to the 2008 study, taller people generally prefer those with slightly larger foreheads and smaller chins, while shorter people generally prefer larger chins and smaller foreheads.
The finding has sparked interest and discussion on social media, especially after it was spotlighted recently in a viral TikTok video by QOVES, an organization dedicated to promoting research on the science of beauty. Commenters are divided, with some agreeing wholeheartedly and others skeptical.
Psychologists specializing in attraction and relationships say the finding is certainly neat and, most likely, legit − however, they add, the buzz around it points to something much deeper: our culture's obsession with beauty, which can become unhealthy if taken too far.
"I’m always a fan of people wanting to learn more about anything related to relationships and generally think that’s healthy. Sometimes that information gets blown out of proportion," says Gary Lewandowski, a relationship scientist and the author of "Stronger Than You Think: The 10 Blind Spots That Undermine Your Relationship... and How to See Past Them." "Relying on 'tricks' or 'hacks' like this doesn’t give people what they really want, which is an authentic connection."
