// as if this couldn't be more disturbing...
Want to look beautiful? Stand next to an unattractive friend
By Fiona Macrae
Last updated at 5:01 PM on 10th September 2009
Forget immaculate make-up or witty one-liners. The secret of seduction is as simple as standing next to your less attractive friend.
Studies show that our judgments of people vary according to the company they keep.
And if that company is less attractive, or dare we way it, ugly, the first person seems all the more appealing.
Kate Moss goes out partying with The Gossip's lead singer Beth Ditto (r). Standing next to a friend perceived as unattractive will make you more appealing, according to a study
Anthony Little, of Stirling University, said: 'You get a bit of a contrast effect when you stand beside someone of the same sex.
'If your friend is unattractive that makes you relatively more attractive.'
On the other hand, exceptionally good-looking friends may cast you in a rather bad light and so should not be invited out on the town.
Those who might want to take heed of the advice include singers Lily Allen and Beth Ditto, both of whom are often photographed with Kate Moss, one of the most beautiful women in the world.
Other tips for enhancing appeal include surrounding yourself with lots of members of the opposite sex - the 'Hugh Hefner effect'.
More...* ALL THE LATEST SCIENCE FESTIVAL NEWSThe Playboy founder is not the first flush of youth but makes himself appear more desirable by constantly being photographed with buxom beauties.
Dr Little, a psychologist, told the British Science Festival: 'If you were just looking at Hugh Hefner's physical attractiveness you might not be that impressed with him.
'But as soon as you see him with beautiful women you might infer other traits, for instance, you might infer he is a multi-millionaire or charming or witty.
'He somehow becomes more attractive.'
The effect extends to the animal kingdom. When researchers placed toy female grouse near a male bird, other hens flocked to be near him.
And a study released last month found that single women view married men as better catches than bachelors.
It seems the fact that they already have someone's seal of approval makes them all the more desirable.
The US researchers said: 'This may be because an attached man has demonstrated his ability to commit and in some ways his qualities have already been "pre-screened" by another woman.
'A commonly heard complaint among women is that "all the good men are taken", but is it possible that this perception is really based on the fact that the taken men are perceived as good?'.
Our parents also provide inspiration in our search for love. Studies show that men are attracted to women who look like their mothers, and women choose boyfriends and husbands that remind them of their fathers.
Dr Little said: 'The best predictor of a someone's partner's hair and eye colour is generally the traits of their parent of opposite sex.
'If your a man whose mother has blue eyes, you are more likely to end up with a partner who has blue eyes.
'If you are born to young parents, you tend to like younger-looking faces but if you are born to old parents, you tend to like older-looking faces.'
Read more:
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1212575/Want-look-beautiful-Stand-unattractive-friend.html#ixzz0QjWplEIi
