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Concurrent parent–child relationship quality is associated with an imprinting-like effect in children’s facial preferences

Vukovic, J.; Boothroyd, L.G.; Meins, E.; Burt, D.M.

Concurrent parent–child relationship quality is associated with an imprinting-like effect in children’s facial preferences Thumbnail


Authors

J. Vukovic

E. Meins



Abstract

Humans have been shown to display phenomena resembling sexual imprinting, whereby adults are attracted to features in potential mates which resemble their opposite sex parent. In humans this may be particularly so when the parent–child relationship is positive, but there are currently limited data elucidating the causes of these patterns. Here we investigate whether such preferences can be documented in children on the cusp of puberty, for whom prospective data exist on parent–child relationships. Sixty 9-year-olds and their parents were recruited from a British longitudinal sample who have been studied since infancy. Parents were photographed and children were then presented with stimuli in which a computer generated face was manipulated to appear more or less like the parent. Children also reported on their current relationship with each parent. Although attachment at 15 months did not predict imprinting at 9 years of age, children reporting a more accepting current relationship with their parents preferred parental features significantly more than those who reported a more rejecting relationship with their parents. These data support the suggestion that imprinting-like phenomena in humans may arise through associative learning.

Citation

Vukovic, J., Boothroyd, L., Meins, E., & Burt, D. (2015). Concurrent parent–child relationship quality is associated with an imprinting-like effect in children’s facial preferences. Evolution and Human Behavior, 36(4), 331-336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2015.03.004

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 2, 2015
Online Publication Date Mar 13, 2015
Publication Date Jul 1, 2015
Deposit Date Mar 16, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Evolution and Human Behavior
Print ISSN 1090-5138
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 36
Issue 4
Pages 331-336
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2015.03.004
Keywords Imprinting, Facial attraction, Homogamy, Kin recognition, Attachment.

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