Race and facial attractiveness: individual differences in perceived adoptability of children

Abstract

To determine whether infant facial attractiveness is related to perceived adoptability, participants were asked to rate photographs of Asian, Black, and White babies on perceived: adoptability, attractiveness, intelligence, health, proportional eye size, and facial shape. It was hypothesized that (a) Asian babies would be rated highest in adoptability, attractiveness, intelligence, health, and facial shape, (b) that attractiveness would be the strongest predictor of adoptability, (c) and that babies perceived as having the largest eyes would also be rated as most attractive, and most adoptable. The results obtained were partially consistent with the first hypothesis and entirely consistent with second and third hypotheses. These findings are discussed in terms of prior research on facial attractiveness,and adoptability.