How Cupid’s arrow strikes, as the more we see someone, the more attractive we find them

tunisante August 22, 2016 Health

Photo study found faces were deemed extra-appealing on second view
Collection was shown to 22 young, unattached men and women
Experts said two types of brainwave are generated when we are excited

Mark Howarth

and
Fiona Mcrae For The Daily Mail

Published:
19:55 EST, 19 August 2016

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Updated:
10:21 EST, 20 August 2016

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It is often said that familiarity breeds contempt. In fact, it sems that the more we see someone, the more attractive we find them.

Far from falling head over heels, we may find love at second, third or even fourth sight.

Examples of couples where love was slow to blossom include Team GB golden duo Laura Trott and Jason Kenny.

Examples of couples where love was slow to blossom include Team GB golden duo Laura Trott and Jason Kenny

The cyclists, who boast ten gold medals between them, got engaged 18 months ago and are due to marry next year.

In a Tweet from Rio earlier this week, Trott, 24, said: ‘I love him to bits! Our kids have to get some of these genes, right?’

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But she wasn’t always so keen on Kenny, admitting she really didn’t like him when they first met.

Researchers at Hamilton College in New York State gathered a range of photographs of faces and had them rated for attractiveness on a nine-point scale by a focus group.

Far from falling head over heels, we may find love at second, third or even fourth sight (Pictured, a still from Romeo and Juliet)

They then selected 112 of the shots, half of which had been deemed good-looking.

That collection was shown to 22 young, unattached men and women who gave them marks out of nine while wired to brain activity monitors. The participants were then shown the same photos again but in a different order.

During the second viewing, the attractive faces were deemed extra-appealing and scored more highly than the first-time round.

Experts say that people often find themselves drawn to individuals after multiple encounters, even when there was no initial attraction (file photo)

And the monitors showed bigger jumps in two types of brainwave that are generated when we are excited.

Psychologist Dr Ravi Thiruchselvam said: ‘Much to their surprise, people often find themselves drawn to individuals after multiple encounters, even when there was no initial attraction. Cupid’s arrow is often slow to strike.

‘An important part of the phenomenon may be attributable to the gradual change in attractiveness from repetition.’