© Steve Granitz/WireImageA study suggests that people with symmetrical faces, such as Natalie Portman, are naturally more self-sufficient.
People with symmetrical faces are more self-sufficient and less likely to co-operate, new research suggestsKate Moss, George Clooney, Natalie Portman or Cristiano Ronaldo may be many people's ideas of dream dates, but pioneering research that combines economics with biology suggests they may not be perfect life partners.
According to a study to be discussed this month at a gathering of Nobel prizewinners, people blessed with more symmetrical facial features, which are considered more attractive, are less likely to co-operate and more likely to selfishly focus on their own interests.
Santiago Sanchez-Pages, who works at the universities of Barcelona and Edinburgh, and Enrique Turiegano, of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, base their claims on the "prisoner's dilemma" model of behaviour, played out under laboratory conditions. Two players were each given the option of being a "dove" and co-operating for the greater good; or a "hawk", taking the selfish option, with a chance of gaining more if the other player chose "dove" and co-operated. The subjects' faces were then analysed.
The study found that people with more symmetrical faces were less likely to co-operate and less likely to expect others to co-operate. The findings will be presented at the annual Nobel Laureate Meetings in Lindau, Germany, from 23 to 27 August.
The explanation may be found in evolution. The two academics speculate that, on a subconscious level, people tend to view symmetrical physical attributes as a sign of good health and find people with them more attractive as a result. Earlier studies have suggested that individuals with symmetrical faces tend to suffer fewer congenital diseases and therefore make better potential mating partners. As a result, the studies suggest, they are more self-sufficient and have less need for seeking the help of others.
The pair write: "As people with symmetrical faces tend to be healthier and more attractive, they are also more self-sufficient and have less of an incentive to co-operate and seek help from others. Through natural selection over thousands of years, these characteristics continue to the present day."
The authors also examine the relationship between co-operation levels and exposure to testosterone during development. Testosterone is usually associated with aggressive behaviour, suggesting "alpha males" do not make great team players.
But the authors suggest this is only a partial truth and that testosterone can promote co-operative behaviour. They write: "Subjects exposed to higher levels of testosterone during foetal development did not co-operate less than the rest and even co-operated more than subjects with average levels. It seems that leading co-operation and not necessarily obtaining a higher individual profit are seen by some as a source of status."
The pair warn against jumping to the "simplistic conclusion" that facial asymmetry or testosterone can be used to predict a person's behaviour, but they suggest their research could help to design public policies and act as a corrective to purely economic-based decision making.
They note: "If certain behaviours such as smoking, drinking or high-speed driving are perceived by those who engage in them as part of their quest for status, it is very unlikely that providing economic disincentives like higher taxes, prices or fines will have a strong deterrent effect."
Reader Comments
organic portal are supposed to be more attractive than adamic humans (somewhere in the Cassopeans materials). would a soulless humanoids be less cooperative than an an adamic human?
The C's also said that organic portals are by no means easy to spot, so I think it cannot be so simple a matter as noting whether somebody is pretty or not.
My first thought was that this study is working with a polluted sample set. That is, the pretty people they tested spent their lives up until the test in society, where they were treated differently from childhood exactly because of their looks. That treatment modified their behavior accordingly, and thus selfish tendencies may stem from social conditioning and genetics might have no more to do with it than that.
Those things that you describe as 'soulless humanoids' are perhaps more accurately described as psychopaths. These are not the same as organic portals. Not by any means.
I like to think organic portals are 2nd to 3rd density bridges and those that are not (excluding psychopaths of course), are 3rd to 4th density bridges. Although, how many of those who are 3rd to 4th density bridges will be 'allowed' to manifest into 4th density, is probably small, since they represent such a rich food source for 4th density sts, whilst in 3rd density. Something to think about.
It seems to me these two terms are being used interchangeably in this article. I find a great deal of difference. Many people are self-sufficient yet cooperative and generous. I also believe that is is a forgone conclusion that people who are considered beautiful in our society are given more and also expect more to be given to them.
and the way you are brought up. And a couple of 100 other factors. Lol.
It's always so important to cross reference with what you already know when learning new things such as, in this case, conducting a study. (or in ours, reading about a study)
For instance, people's face become more symmetrical as they work on themselves and undo their issues. Any kind of effective therapy, be it "traditional" western therapy, hypnosis or whatever. So, when one becomes more healthy and whole, and fixes his or her issues, does that person become less cooperative. Not usually. In fact usually the opposite, as their then much easier to get along with.
Also, as pointed out in an above comment, they seem to be blurring the line between self sufficient and uncooperative in this article/study. In day to day reality though, people who are self sufficient can more easily be part of a healthy cooperation. Think of the growth stages we go through: dependance-independence-interdependence. You're not able to have healthy interdependent relationships, be they with another individual, or within a larger group, until you have first become independent.
People who are not yet self sufficient (ie still largely in "dependence") will seek to be part of a group or be in a relationship of some sort, but they will come from a place of dependence (think of the teen that threatens to kill him/herself of the other leaves).
So, there is a lot to consider that people doing such research should really think about.
Indeed people with higher levels of testosterone are willing to help and co-operate. I have a friend with high levels or so he says, and he looks like, and he helps a lot.