Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? How we determine what is beautiful (and what is ugly)

What if I were to show you the face of someone and ask: “Do you think this person is beautiful?”  I bet you wouldn’t have a problem giving me an answer. But if I were to show that same picture to someone else, I might get a different answer.

So how does our perception of beauty develop?  Why does it differ from one person to the next?  And how does it change over time?

These are questions that Daphne Maurer, an experimental psychologist, has been exploring for over three decades with her husband, science writer Charles Maurer.  Hear about the fascinating studies she’s done that can help explain the way we see ourselves and the world.

Info on Guest:

Daphne Maurer is an experimental psychologist;  a Professor Emeritus in psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour with McMaster University.  She and her husband science writer Charles Maurer are the authors of “Pretty Ugly: Why We Like Some Songs, Faces, Foods, Plays, Pictures, Poems, etc. - and Dislike Others.”

More about Daphne Maurer and her work: https://experts.mcmaster.ca/display/maurer

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We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!