Babies look at attractive people because lookism is an innate product of how the human visual system functions.
The Science Behind Infant Preference
Studies have demonstrated that this preference is not learned, but rather a built-in biological response. Newborns as young as 14 hours old show a distinct tendency to gaze at faces that adults generally perceive as attractive over those deemed unattractive. This innate preference isn’t limited to humans either.
Key Findings:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Age of Preference | Infants as young as 14 hours old exhibit the preference. |
| Visual Preference | Babies prefer to look at faces considered attractive by adults. |
| Cross-Species Application | The preference isn't unique to humans, extending to other animals like cats. |
| Nature of Preference | This suggests it is an innate visual system preference, not something learned. |
Innate Visual System Response:
- Biological Programming: This preference indicates that the human visual system is pre-programmed to find certain visual features more appealing.
- Not Learned Behavior: The fact that newborns exhibit this preference eliminates learning or social conditioning as a primary cause.
- Evolutionary Basis: It is hypothesized that attraction preferences may have evolutionary roots linked to mate selection and survival.
Implications and Examples
Understanding this innate preference helps scientists understand human perception and the basic building blocks of social interaction. It suggests that there may be an underlying, universal way we process visual information about faces.
- Universality: The consistent findings across different ages and cultures suggest a strong, innate component.
- Further Research: While the research is telling, many questions remain regarding this innate attraction and it will be interesting to see future research in this area.
This tendency is thought to be ingrained as part of human biology, suggesting a fundamental visual preference rather than a learned behavior.
