发文章
发文工具
撰写
网文摘手
文档
视频
思维导图
随笔
相册
原创同步助手
其他工具
图片转文字
文件清理
AI助手
留言交流
It's 1878. Sir Francis Galton gives a remarkable talk. He's speaking to the anthropologic institute of Great Britain and Ireland. Known for his pioneering work in human intelligence, Galton is a brilliant polymath. He's an explorer, an anthropologist, a sociologist, a psychologist and a statistician. He's also a eugenist. In this talk, he presents a new technique by which he can combine photographs and produce composite portraits. This technique could be used to characterize different types of people. Galton thinks that if he combines photographs of violent criminals, he will discover the face of criminality. But to his surprise, the composite portrait that he produces is beautiful.
Galton's surprising finding raises deep questions: What is beauty? Why do certain configurations of line and color and form excite us so? For most of human history, these questions have been approached using logic and speculation. But in the last few decades, scientists have addressed the question of beauty using ideas from evolutionary psychology and tools of neuroscience. We're beginning to glimpse the why and the how of beauty, at least in terms of what it means for the human face and form. And in the process, we're stumbling upon some surprises.
When it comes to seeing beauty in each other, while this decision is certainly subjective for the individual, it's sculpted by factors that contribute to the survival of the group. Many experiments have shown that a few basic parameters contribute to what makes a face attractive. These include averaging, symmetry and the effects of hormones. Let's take each one of these in turn.
Galton's finding that composite or average faces are typically more attractive than each individual face that contributes to the average has been replicated many times. This laboratory finding fits with many people's intuitions. Average faces represent the central tendencies of a group. People with mixed features represent different populations, and presumably harbor greater genetic diversity and adaptability to the environment. Many people find mixed-race individuals attractive and inbred families less so.
The second factor that contributes to beauty is symmetry. People generally find symmetric faces more attractive than asymmetric ones. Developmental abnormalities are often associated with asymmetries. And in plants, animals and humans, asymmetries often arise from parasitic infections. Symmetry, it turns out, is also an indicator of health. In the 1930s, a man named Maksymilian Faktorowicz recognized the importance of symmetry for beauty when he designed the beauty micrometer. With this device, he could measure minor asymmetric flaws which he could then make up for with products he sold from his company, named brilliantly after himself, Max Factor, which, as you know, is one of the world's most famous brands for "make up."
The third factor that contributes to facial attractiveness is the effect of hormones. And here, I need to apologize for confining my comments to heterosexual norms. But estrogen and testosterone play important roles in shaping features that we find attractive. Estrogen produces features that signal fertility. Men typically find women attractive who have elements of both youth and maturity. A face that's too baby-like might mean that the girl is not yet fertile, so men find women attractive who have large eyes, full lips and narrow chins as indicators of youth, and high cheekbones as an indicator of maturity.
Testosterone produces features that we regard as typically masculine. These include heavier brows, thinner cheeks and bigger, squared-off jaws. But here's a fascinating irony. In many species, if anything, testosterone suppresses the immune system. So the idea that testosterone-infused features are a fitness indicator doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. Here, the logic is turned on its head. Instead of a fitness indicator, scientists invoke a handicap principle.
The most commonly cited example of a handicap is the peacock's tail. This beautiful but cumbersome tail doesn't exactly help the peacock avoid predators and approach peahens. Why should such an extravagant appendage evolve? Even Charles Darwin, in an 1860 letter to Asa Gray wrote that the sight of the peacock's tail made him physically ill. He couldn't explain it with his theory of natural selection, and out of this frustration, he developed the theory of sexual selection.
On this account, the display of the peacock's tail is about sexual enticement, and this enticement means it's more likely the peacock will mate and have offspring. Now, the modern twist on this display argument is that the peacock is also advertising its health to the peahen. Only especially fit organisms can afford to divert resources to maintaining such an extravagant appendage. Only especially fit men can afford the price that testosterone levies on their immune system. And by analogy, think of the fact that only very rich men can afford to pay more than $10,000 for a watch as a display of their financial fitness.
Now, many people hear these kinds of evolutionary claims and think they mean that we somehow are unconsciously seeking mates who are healthy. And I think this idea is probably not right. Teenagers and young adults are not exactly known for making decisions that are predicated on health concerns. But they don't have to be, and let me explain why.
Imagine a population in which people have three different kinds of preferences: for green, for orange and for red. From their point of view, these preferences have nothing to do with health; they just like what they like. But if it were also the case that these preferences are associated with the different likelihood of producing offspring -- let's say in a ratio of 3:2:1 -- then in the first generation, there would be 3 greens to 2 oranges to 1 red, and in each subsequent generation, the proportion of greens increase, so that in 10 generations, 98 percent of this population has a green preference. Now, a scientist coming in and sampling this population discovers that green preferences are universal. So the point about this little abstract example is that while preferences for specific physical features can be arbitrary for the individual, if those features are heritable and they are associated with a reproductive advantage, over time, they become universal for the group.
So what happens in the brain when we see beautiful people? Attractive faces activate parts of our visual cortex in the back of the brain, an area called the fusiform gyrus, that is especially tuned to processing faces, and an adjacent area called the lateral occipital complex, that is especially attuned to processing objects. In addition, attractive faces activate parts of our reward and pleasure centers in the front and deep in the brain, and these include areas that have complicated names, like the ventral striatum, the orbitofrontal cortex and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Our visual brain that is tuned to processing faces interacts with our pleasure centers to underpin the experience of beauty.
Amazingly, while we all engage with beauty, without our knowledge, beauty also engages us. Our brains respond to attractive faces even when we're not thinking about beauty. We conducted an experiment in which people saw a series of faces, and in one condition, they had to decide if a pair of faces were the same or a different person. Even in this condition, attractive faces drove neural activity robustly in their visual cortex, despite the fact that they were thinking about a person's identity and not their beauty. Another group similarly found automatic responses to beauty within our pleasure centers. Taken together, these studies suggest that our brain automatically responds to beauty by linking vision and pleasure. These beauty detectors, it seems, ping every time we see beauty, regardless of whatever else we might be thinking.
We also have a "beauty is good" stereotype embedded in the brain. Within the orbitofrontal cortex, there's overlapping neural activity in response to beauty and to goodness, and this happens even when people aren't explicitly thinking about beauty or goodness. Our brains seem to reflexively associate beauty and good. And this reflexive association may be the biologic trigger for the many social effects of beauty. Attractive people receive all kinds of advantages in life. They're regarded as more intelligent, more trustworthy, they're given higher pay and lesser punishments, even when such judgments are not warranted.
These kinds of observations reveal beauty's ugly side. In my lab, we recently found that people with minor facial anomalies and disfigurements are regarded as less good, less kind, less intelligent, less competent and less hardworking. Unfortunately, we also have a "disfigured is bad" stereotype. This stereotype is probably exploited and magnified by images in popular media, in which facial disfigurement is often used as a shorthand to depict someone of villainous character. We need to understand these kinds of implicit biases if we are to overcome them and aim for a society in which we treat people fairly, based on their behavior and not on the happenstance of their looks.
Let me leave you with one final thought. Beauty is a work in progress. The so-called universal attributes of beauty were selected for during the almost two million years of the Pleistocene. Life was nasty, brutish and a very long time ago. The selection criteria for reproductive success from that time doesn't really apply today.
For example, death by parasite is not one of the top ways that people die, at least not in the technologically developed world. From antibiotics to surgery, birth control to in vitro fertilization, the filters for reproductive success are being relaxed. And under these relaxed conditions, preference and trait combinations are free to drift and become more variable. Even as we are profoundly affecting our environment, modern medicine and technological innovation is profoundly affecting the very essence of what it means to look beautiful. The universal nature of beauty is changing even as we're changing the universe.
Thank you.
(Applause)
1878 年, 法蘭西斯高爾頓爵士 做了一場非凡的演說。 演說的對象是英國 與愛爾蘭的人類學機構。 高爾頓以他在人類 智慧領域的先驅工作聞名, 他是個博學的人。 他是個探險家、 是個人類學家、 是個社會學家、 是個心理學家、 也是個統計學家。 他還是個優生學家。 在那場演說中, 他展示了一項新技術, 他可以把照片結合 產生出複合的肖像。 這項技術可以用來 描繪不同類型人的特色。 高爾頓認為,如果他可以把 暴力罪犯的照片結合起來, 他也許就能夠發現罪犯的面貌。 但,出乎他意料, 他製作出的複合肖像竟然 很美。
高爾頓的意外發現, 帶出了更深的問題: 美,到底是什麼? 為什麼將線條、顏色、形式 做某些配置之後就能感動我們? 在大部份的人類史上, 人們都用邏輯和推測 來處理這些問題。 但在最近幾十年, 科學家在處理關於美的問題時, 用的是來自演化心理學的想法 以及神經科學的工具。 我們開始研究美的定義與成因, 至少對臉部及外型 已經開始有了審美的概念。 在過程中, 我們偶然發現了一些驚喜。
談到互看順眼時, 對個人而言,其審美標準 絕對是主觀的, 原因是因為這樣對 團體的生存有所貢獻。 許多實驗都顯示, 有幾個基本參數 與臉孔的吸引力有關。 這些參數包括大眾臉、 對稱性、以及荷爾蒙的影響。 我們一項一項來討論。
高爾頓發現, 混血兒或有大眾臉的人 通常比一般單一血種的後代 更具吸引力。 這個實驗室的發現, 與許多人的直覺不謀而合。 一般人的面孔代表了 一個團體的主要傾向。 有混血特徵的人, 代表著不同的族群, 也被認定有著更高的 基因多樣性、 以及對環境的適應力。 許多人覺得混血兒的臉孔 是較有吸引力的, 而近親交配的家庭 就比較沒吸引力。
與美有關的第二個因子是對稱性。 一般來說,人們覺得對稱的面孔 比不對稱的更有吸引力。 不正常的成長通常都與不對稱有關。 植物、動物、及人類, 造成不對稱的原因 通常是受到寄生蟲的感染。 因此,對稱性 也是健康的指標。 在 1930 年代, 有個叫蜜斯米蘭佛陀維茲的人, 當時他在設計美容校準儀時, 體認到對稱性對於美的重要性, 有了這個儀器, 他可以測量出微小的對稱瑕疵, 接著他就可以用他公司 所販售的產品來補救, 並很聰明地把他的名字取其諧音 作為公司的名稱,蜜絲佛陀, 各位應該知道,它是世界知名的 化妝品公司之一。
與臉部吸引力有關的第三個因子是 荷爾蒙的影響力。 在此我得道個歉,因為我的意見 僅限於異性戀的標準上。 但在形成被我們認為 有吸引力的那些特徵上, 雌激素和睪丸素 扮演了重要的角色。 雌激素產生的特徵 會傳達出生育力。 男人通常會覺得,同時俱有 年輕和成熟元素的女人 很有吸引力。 太幼齒的面孔可能代表著 這個女孩還沒有生育能力, 所以能吸引男人的女人 通常有大眼睛、豐脣、窄下巴, 這些都是年輕的指標; 而高顴骨則是成熟的指標。
睪丸素產生的特徵,通常會被我們 認定為很有男子氣概。 這些特徵包括濃眉、 瘦臉頰、 較大且方形的下頜。 但這裡有個很迷人的諷刺。 在許多物種中, 睪丸素的增加 反而會抑制免疫系統。 所以認為睪丸素 所賦予的特徵是強健的指標, 其實不是很有道理。 在這裡,邏輯被顛覆了。 科學家提出了一條 生理缺陷原則, 指出睪丸素並非強健的指標。
最常被引用的生理缺陷例子, 就是孔雀的尾巴。 這美麗但累贅的尾巴 並不能幫助雄孔雀 避開獵食者, 也不方便接近雌孔雀。 為什麼這種奢華的 附屬品會被演化出來? 即使達爾文, 在 1860 年寫給 阿薩格雷的信上也提到, 看見孔雀尾巴會讓他 感到身理上的不舒服。 他無法用他的天擇說 來解釋原因, 出於這挫折, 他發展出了性擇說。
由於這個原因, 孔雀展示尾巴的目的是性誘惑, 這種誘惑意味著這孔雀 很可能想交配、 想生育後代。 換個現代的角度想, 雄孔雀是在向雌孔雀展現牠的健康。 只有特別強健的有機體 才有資格傳宗接代, 並保有這奢華的附屬物。 只有特別健康的人, 才承擔得起睪丸素 抑制免疫系統的風險。 舉個類似的現實例子, 只有超級富翁才有能力買支 超過一萬美金的手錶, 來彰顯他們的經濟實力。
許多人聽到這類的演化主張, 就會想,是不是這個原因, 我們人類會下意識地 去尋找健康的配偶。 我認為這個想法可能不太對。 青少年和年輕人容易被看上的原因, 並不完全是他們健康條件上的優勢。 他們也不想這樣, 讓我來解釋原因。
想像有一個族群, 族群中的人有三種偏好: 有人偏好綠色、有人偏好橘色、 有人偏好紅色。 從他們的觀點, 這些偏好與健康無關; 他們就是喜歡這顏色。 但如果我們人類對這些 顏色偏好的比率 也剛好與產生後代的有關…... 假設原來的比率是 3:2:1…... 那麼,在第一代中, 會有三個綠色、 兩個橘色、一個紅色。 在後續的每個世代中, 喜歡綠色的比例會增加, 在十代之後, 這個族群中就有 98% 的人都偏好綠色。 現在來了一個科學家, 對這個族群進行抽樣, 發現對綠色的偏好是很普遍的。 這個小小的純理論例子的重點是, 雖然對於特定身體特徵的偏好 可能是因人而異的, 但如果那些特徵是有遺傳性的, 而且與繁殖優勢有關聯的話, 隨時間過去, 這些特徵就會變成團體的普遍現象。
所以,當我們看見美麗的人時, 頭腦中會發生什麼變化? 有吸引力的臉孔會觸發 我們的部份視覺皮層, 它位在大腦的後方, 這個區域叫做梭狀回, 專門用來處理臉孔資訊, 還有一個相鄰的區域, 叫側枕葉複合體, 它是特別用來處理物件資訊的。 此外, 具吸引力的臉孔會觸發 位在我們大腦前方深處的 獎賞與快感中樞, 包括一些名稱複雜的區域, 比如腹側紋狀體、 眼眶額葉皮質、 及腹內側額葉。 我們用來處理臉孔的視覺大腦 會和我們的快感中樞互動, 強化對美感的體驗。
但驚人的是, 當我們「遇見」美麗時, 卻不知道, 美麗同時也「遇見」了我們。 即使我們沒有想著美, 我們的大腦卻會對 有吸引力的臉孔做出反應。 我們做了一個實驗, 讓人們看一系列的臉孔, 在一個條件下, 他們得要判定一對臉孔 是否屬於同一個人。 即使在這個情況中, 有吸引力的臉孔會明顯地驅動 受測者視覺皮層的神經活動, 儘管當時他們在想的是人的身份, 而不是他們美不美。 另一群人也有類似發現, 在我們的快感中樞裡, 我們對美會有自動的反應。 整體來看,這些研究指出, 我們的大腦會藉由視覺和快感的連結 對美會自動的反應, 似乎,每回當我們看到美時, 這些對美有反應的偵測器就會響起, 不論我們當時在想什麼其它的事。
我們腦中也內建了一個 「美等於好」的刻板印象。 在眼眶額葉皮質中, 對於「美」及「好」 所造成的神經活動反應 是有重疊性的, 即使人們沒有特別去想著美或好, 也會發生。 我們的大腦似乎會反射性地 把美與好連結在一起。 社會上因「美」而產生的回饋, 其背後的關聯性可能就是 這些生物觸發器在驅動。 有吸引力的人, 在人生中有各種優勢。 他們會被視為比較聰明, 比較值得信賴, 他們會比較高薪、比較少受懲罰, 即使這類的判斷是沒根據的。
觀察到這種現象 也揭露出美的醜陋面。 在我的實驗室中,我們最近發現 有輕微面部異常及缺損的人, 會被認為比較不好、比較不仁慈、 比較不聰明、比較沒能力、 且比較不努力。 不幸的是,我們也有 「缺損等於不好」的刻板印象。 大眾媒體的影像可能會利用和放大 這種刻板印象, 他們常用「面部缺損」 這種簡單的描繪方式 來形容反派人物。 我們需要了解這類的暗示性偏見, 才有可能克服它們, 並朝向一個能平等待人的社會邁進, 不要只是看一個人的外表 就斷定人的好壞。
讓我留給各位一個最後的思考。 美的定義還在改變。 所謂放諸四海皆準的美的特徵 是從幾乎兩百萬年的 「更新世」所挑選出來的。 那時生命很糟糕、很粗野、很古早。 當時能繁衍成功的選擇標準 在現今並不適用。
比如, 因寄生蟲而造成死亡 並不是人類前幾名的死因, 至少在技術發達的世界中不是。 從抗生素到手術, 從生育控制到試管授精, 繁殖成功的過濾器已經被放寬了。 在這些放寬的條件下, 偏好與特性的組合可以自由搭配, 也變得更多樣性。 即使我們會深深影響我們的環境, 現代醫學及技術創新 會深深影響著 我們對美的定義。 即使我們正在改變全世界, 普世價值對美的定義也在改變。
謝謝大家。
(掌聲)
来自: kevingiao > 《Ted》
0条评论
发表
请遵守用户 评论公约
TED演讲 | 你的大脑是如何控制你的审美的
许多人觉得混血儿的脸孔是较有吸引力的,而近亲交配的家庭就比较没吸引力。想象有一个族群,族群中的人有三种偏好:有人偏好绿色、有人偏好橘色、有人偏好红色。有吸引力的脸孔会触发我们的部份视觉皮...
译言网 | 怎样的相貌更有吸引力
怎样的相貌更有吸引力?For instance, you can make lots of structural changes — taking a broader chin and more prominent eyebrow bones and changing them to a smaller chin and a less promin...
如何形容美女
天姿国色:one can use heavenly beauty (e.g, She is a heavenly beauty/ she is heavenly/She is heavenly beautiful), angelic, unearthly (e.g. unearthly beautiful), and goddess (as in "S...
Young Chinese place high importance on looks: survey
More than 75 percent of young people believe that being physically attractive can give them a competitive edge in society, according to poll results released Wednesday by the China Youth ...
lovely怎么读
lovely怎么读。The girl''s rosy cheeks made her look very lovely.lovely的基本意思是“可爱的,吸引人的”,感情色彩较浓,...
The power of beauty III
The power of beauty III.Since beauty is so powerful andimportant, we can be thankful that there are many ways to be beautiful, andvery many sources.美的力量。In 1)bodily form, 2)symmetry ...
趣味英语 | Rack one's brains
趣味英语 | Rack one''s brains.Rack one''''''''s brains.Literally, to stretch one''''''''s brains on the rack, an in...
双语:初次约会时要注意的11个小细节
If you smell nice to your date, they’ll find you more attractive; if you smell nice to yourself, you’ll feel more confident a...
喷香水真的会给你带来更好的异性缘吗?
一些实验已经发现这些分子使异性面部或其照片对异性恋志愿者显得更有吸引力。6) If AND and EST really are aphrodisiac pheromones, the researchers reasoned, then they ought to make participants...
微信扫码,在手机上查看选中内容