Study Proves That 'Beer Goggles' Actually Exist
NEW YORK (CBS NEWS) - We often joke that alcohol can make a person look more attractive. But do these rumored "beer goggles" really exist? According to a new study published on April 4, alcohol can make the heart grow fonder -- or at least make people look more attractive.
Lewis Halsey, a senior lecturer in comparative and eco physiology at the University of Roehampton in London, and his colleagues wanted to find out if a person's perception of facial symmetry changed with alcohol consumption. Previous studies have shown that facial symmetry is a major factor in judging physical attractiveness. "The people in our study were not drinking heavily, and the effects we have found seem to increase with the amount of alcohol consumed," Halsey told the Independent.
For the study, researchers divided 101 mostly college-aged participants into groups. One was given alcoholic drinks, one was given non-alcoholic drinks (placebo) and the last was given diluted orange cordial (control). The level of alcohol, weight and concentration of alcohol were all measured. They were then given a computerized task, which asked them to say if a face was attractive and to see whether or not a face was symmetrical by looking at a picture for five seconds.
Female and male participants who had drank alcohol were both worse at detecting whether or not a face was symmetrical. Men were also found to have a lesser preference for symmetrical faces -- or a lower standard for attractiveness -- when under the influence of alcohol than women. "What we have shown is that people's ability to detect symmetry is part of the explanation for the beer goggle effects," Halsey told the Independent.
Click Here To Read More From CBS News
Also Check Out:
