Distinctiveness ratings of faces and shape distinctiveness measured from face images are positively correlated, but only weakly

Many previous studies have reported that more distinctive (i.e., less average) faces are generally perceived to be unattractive. However, studies that have reported correlations between distinctiveness and facial attractiveness have used two different methods to assess distinctiveness. While some studies have assessed distinctiveness via distinctiveness ratings of faces made by participants, other studies assessed distinctiveness by objectively measuring shape distinctiveness from face images using computer graphics methods. However, a lack of clarity regarding how well correlated these two different measures of distinctiveness are creates a challenge for researchers wishing to interpret the distinctiveness literature. Consequently, here we tested for possible correlations between distinctiveness ratings of faces made by participants and an objective measure of shape distinctiveness from face images. Distinctiveness ratings of faces made by participants and the objective measure of shape distinctiveness were significantly and positively correlated and this relationship was not significantly moderated by sex of face. However, because the correlation was weak (r = .24), we suggest that researchers should carefully consider the method that studies used to assess distinctiveness when interpreting the large literature on the role of distinctiveness in social judgments of faces. This research was supported by ESRC grant ES/X000249/1 awarded to BCJ and University of Strathclyde Global Research Awards to KL and JD. For the purpose of Open Access, the authors have applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) to any Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) version arising from this submission.