The Impact of Facial Symmetry on Perceived Favorability
Abstract
People often connect the idea of facial symmetry with beauty, believing that balanced features tend to make a person more attractive or likable, but it is not always clear whether or not it actually does affect others when it comes to judging one's favorability. This study sought to find whether a difference exists between symmetrical and asymmetrical faces with regard to perceived favorability among college students. In an experimental design, thirty-six (36) participants from a private institution were randomly assigned into two groups. The control group evaluated five facial photographs that were perfectly symmetrical, and the experimental group evaluated the same faces but adjusted to display symmetry variation at 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%. Using a Likert scale, the participants rated how likable each face appeared. Analyses were performed through descriptive statistics, Levene’s Test for Equality of Variances, independent samples t-test, and Cohen’s d to measure effect size. Although the experimental group gave a slightly higher overall rating in many instances, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. This would mean that, although symmetry may have a minor role in building first impressions, everything else that people consider is not symmetry. Other factors like facial expression, cultural influence, and personal taste may hold a more significant impact in how favorably a person is perceived. Therefore, attractiveness and likability appear to depend on a mix of qualities rather than just symmetry alone.
How to Cite This Article
Alwella Gail Rebucas, Rassja Nyasha Secang, Jaceybell Estrecho, Karla Gabayeron, Chloe Marguerite Meneses, Edrianne Natabio, Frances Clare Vallejera, Reymart Shan Tinosan (2025). The Impact of Facial Symmetry on Perceived Favorability . Journal of Frontiers in Multidisciplinary Research (JFMR), 6(2), 447-452. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54660/.JFMR.2025.6.2.447-452