Brown-eyed people appear more trustworthy than blue-eyed people: People judge men's trustworthiness based on face shape, eye color (2024)

Science News

from research organizations

Date:
January 9, 2013
Source:
Public Library of Science
Summary:
People view brown-eyed faces as more trustworthy than those with blue eyes, except if the blue eyes belong to a broad-faced man, according to new research.
Share:

FULL STORY

People view brown-eyed faces as more trustworthy than those with blue eyes, except if the blue eyes belong to a broad-faced man, according to new research.

The study was published Jan. 9 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Karel Kleisner and colleagues from Charles University in the Czech Republic.

The study's results attempt to answer a larger question: What makes us think a person's face looks trustworthy? The authors asked study participants to rate male and female faces for trustworthiness based on two features: eye color and face shape. A significant number of participants found brown-eyed faces more trustworthy than blue-eyed, whether the faces were male or female. More rounded male faces, with bigger mouths and larger chins, were perceived as more trustworthy than narrow ones, but the shape of a female face did not have much effect on how trustworthy it appeared to the respondents.

To test which of the two features were more important, the researchers tried a third test, presenting participants with photographs of male faces that were identical except for one difference: eye color. Here, they found that both eye colors were considered equally trustworthy.

According to the study, "We concluded that although the brown-eyed faces were perceived as more trustworthy than the blue-eyed ones, it was not brown eye color per se that caused the stronger perception of trustworthiness but rather the facial features associated with brown eyes."

Story Source:

Materials provided by Public Library of Science. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

  1. Karel Kleisner, Lenka Priplatova, Peter Frost, Jaroslav Flegr. Trustworthy-Looking Face Meets Brown Eyes. PLoS ONE, 2013; 8 (1): e53285 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053285

Cite This Page:

  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Public Library of Science. "Brown-eyed people appear more trustworthy than blue-eyed people: People judge men's trustworthiness based on face shape, eye color." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 January 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130109185850.htm>.

Public Library of Science. (2013, January 9). Brown-eyed people appear more trustworthy than blue-eyed people: People judge men's trustworthiness based on face shape, eye color. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130109185850.htm

Public Library of Science. "Brown-eyed people appear more trustworthy than blue-eyed people: People judge men's trustworthiness based on face shape, eye color." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130109185850.htm (accessed May 29, 2024).


Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES

Oct. 5, 2020 — Even though dogs gaze into man's eyes, dog brains may not process faces as human brains do. A new study suggests that the canine visual system is organized differently: the face network found in ...

Aug. 24, 2020 — Why people perceive motion in some static images has mystified not only those who view these optical illusions but neuroscientists who have tried to explain the phenomenon. Now neuroscientists have ...

Oct. 17, 2019 — Prolonged exposure to blue light, such as that which emanates from your phone, computer and household fixtures, could be affecting your longevity, even if it's not shining in your eyes. New research ...

June 13, 2019 — We often look to people's faces for signs of how they're thinking or feeling, trying to gauge whether their eyes are narrowed or widened, whether the mouth is turned up or down. But new findings show ...

Brown-eyed people appear more trustworthy than blue-eyed people: People judge men's trustworthiness based on face shape, eye color (2024)

FAQs

Brown-eyed people appear more trustworthy than blue-eyed people: People judge men's trustworthiness based on face shape, eye color? ›

According to the study, "We concluded that although the brown-eyed faces were perceived as more trustworthy than the blue-eyed ones, it was not brown eye color per se that caused the stronger perception of trustworthiness but rather the facial features associated with brown eyes."

Are people with brown eyes more trustworthy? ›

Gazing into people's eyes can offer insight into whether they can be trusted, and according to new research, this perception may have something to do with eye color. A study published in the journal PLOS ONE found that brown-eyed people are believed to be more trustworthy than blue-eyed people.

Do men find blue eyes or brown eyes more attractive? ›

When broken down by gender, men ranked gray, blue, and green eyes as the most attractive, while women said they were most attracted to green, hazel, and gray eyes. Despite brown eyes ranking at the bottom of our perceived attraction scale, approximately 79% of the world's population sports melanin-rich brown eyes.

What is the myth about brown-eyed people? ›

The old myth about genetics is that a single gene was responsible for eye color. Under this myth, it was believed that two blue-eyed parents couldn't give birth to a brown-eyed child. However, it turns out that there could be as many as 16 genes that determine eye color.

Are brown eyes dominant over blue eyes True or false? ›

Eye color was traditionally described as a single gene trait, with brown eyes being dominant over blue eyes. Today, scientists have discovered that at least eight genes influence the final color of eyes. The genes control the amount of melanin inside specialized cells of the iris.

What is special about people with brown eyes? ›

They Are Less Prone to Certain Eye Diseases

The sun can cause severe eye damage and result in eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration. But because brown eyes have more melanin, it's safe to say that if you have brown eyes, you are less likely to get these types of eye diseases.

What is a trustworthy face shape? ›

Common features of both trustworthiness and dominance emerged. A trustworthy face, at its most extreme, has a U-shaped mouth and eyes that form an almost surprised look. An untrustworthy face, at its most extreme, is an angry one with the edges of the mouth curled down and eyebrows pointing down at the center.

What is the myth about blue eyed people? ›

One of the oldest myths in human genetics is that having blue eyes is determined by a single gene, with the allele for blue eyes recessive to the allele for non-blue eyes (green, brown, or hazel). Many people who know nothing else about genetics think that two blue-eyed parents cannot have a brown-eyed child.

What are golden brown eyes? ›

It may seem like amber-colored eyes are just a light shade of brown, but brown eyes are darker because they have more eumelanin. Amber eyes have more pheomelanin than brown eyes, and that's what gives them their yellowish-gold tint.

Are brown eyes lucky? ›

Brown Eyes

Well, consider yourself lucky – or maybe unlucky – because you have the most common eye color in the world! Being one of the popular kids isn't the only benefit of brown eyes, some studies have actually suggested that men with brown eyes seem more trustworthy than their blue eyed counterparts.

What is the rarest eye color? ›

Gray: The Rarest Eye Color
Eye ColorU.S. PopulationWorld Population
Gray and otherLess than 1%Less than 1%
Green9%2%
Hazel/amber18%10%
Blue27%8% to 10%
1 more row
Jan 1, 2024

What eye color is most dominant? ›

Eye colour, or more correctly iris colour, is often used as an example for teaching Mendelian genetics, with brown being dominant and blue being recessive.

Why are brown eyes more dominant? ›

The bey2 gene has one allele for brown eyes and one for blue eyes. The allele for brown eyes is the most dominant allele and is always dominant over the other two alleles and the allele for green eyes is always dominant over the allele for blue eyes, which is always recessive.

What's so attractive about brown eyes? ›

Brown eyes are considered the most attractive (on females mainly). They can be sexy, cute, exotic etc. They reflect light and have many more flecks and shades to them compared to light eyes. Worldwide they are the prettiest and most desired eye colour.

Are people with brown eyes more dominant? ›

Eye colour, or more correctly iris colour, is often used as an example for teaching Mendelian genetics, with brown being dominant and blue being recessive.

Which gender is more likely to have brown eyes? ›

These results are also corroborated by the revision and meta-analysis of data from previously published eye colour genetic studies in several Caucasian populations, which significantly support the fact that males are more likely to have blue eyes than females, while females tend to show higher frequencies of green and ...

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 6570

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.