The Visual Process Method: A New Method to Study Physical Attractiveness

The visual process method is a computer-aided procedure that allows for the recording of the viewing sequence, viewing time, and amount of information used with respect to various face and body parts in judgments of physical attractiveness. A study with 26 male and 44 female participants demonstrated the reliability and validity of the data gathered with this method. In agreement with evolutionary psychology, features associated with the mate value of the individual—youthfulness, health, sexual maturity for female targets, and status and dominance for male targets—were looked at sooner and more often. © 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.