1st Edition
The Psychology of Attractiveness and Aesthetics How We Perceive Beauty in People and Artwork
Introduction
Chapter 1: Evolutionary Aesthetics: Physical Attractiveness (Faces and Bodies)
Biological Foundation (Why) of Perception of Attractiveness
Why and What of Attractiveness in Humans
Parental investment theory
Facial Attractiveness
Bodily Attractiveness
Conclusion
Chapter 2: Appearance Enhancement
The What and Why of Appearance Enhancement in Men and Women
Upper Body Boost
Other Means of Attractiveness Enhancement: Breasts, Hairs, and Skin
Individual and Cultural Differences
Eyelashes
Chapter 3: Contrapposto and Art
Supernormal Stimuli and WHR
Female Contrapposto
Male Contrapposto
Lordosis and Arching the Back
Chapter 4: Objects, Visual aesthetics, and Human Preferences
Evolutionary theories of aesthetic preferences
Meaningful properties
Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processing in Art Perception
Emotion in visual arts
Chapter 5: Aesthetics in the Brain
Visual Brain and Art
Art and Brain Damage
Art and Brain Areas
Chapter 6: Epilogue
Biography
Farid Pazhoohi is Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Plymouth, UK, where he serves as the Director of the Social Cognition Lab. His interdisciplinary research focuses on the cognitive, social, and neural mechanisms of interpersonal perception and social cognition.
