Can your pupil size make you appear sexier to others? You might think that eye color has an effect on one’s attractiveness, but this has been disproven: people are not more likely to find blue or green eyes sexier than brown ones. However, new research from scientists from multiple universities, which was published in the journal Cognition, suggests that the size of the pupil is a factor in sex appeal.
We all know looks can influence many aspects of life. Since eyes play a big role in attractiveness, we wondered if a specific eye feature, pupil size, affects how attractive we find someone. There are two opposing ideas about which pupil size is more attractive. One theory suggests larger pupils are seen as better because they mimic youthful features (think big, bright eyes like a baby). Another theory proposes smaller pupils win because they reveal more colorful irises, making the eyes appear brighter and more captivating.
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The researchers spoke about Neoteny, the retention of juvenile characteristics in an adult organism. This can manifest in physical appearance, behavior, or physiology. Neoteny is a widespread phenomenon in the animal kingdom, and it is thought to play a role in the evolution of some species. In humans, neoteny is thought to be responsible for some of our most characteristic features, such as our large brains, round faces, and relatively hairless bodies.
This also applied when it comes to pupil size, as pupils naturally get smaller with age. So, following this logic, dilated (larger) pupils could be seen as more attractive because they signal youthfulness. In simpler terms, big eyes might be considered prettier because they make someone appear younger.
Not all youthful features are universally attractive in adults. In fact, there might be something to the idea of smaller pupils being more appealing. Here’s why: imagine the pupil and iris as a seesaw. When pupils get bigger (dilated), they cover more of the iris. On the other hand, smaller pupils (constricted) reveal more iris. Technically, the iris is a muscle that controls light entering the eye by getting bigger or smaller. So, when we consider pupil size, we’re indirectly considering iris size as well.
Professor Zachary Estes of Bayes Business School at City, University of London said, “Our research reveals that constricted pupils enhance physical attractiveness by making the eyes appear brighter,”
“Appearance isn’t everything, of course, but sometimes we do want to look our best. Our research reveals that people appear more attractive when their irises are bigger, showing more brightness in their eyes,”
“During the Renaissance period, women used to apply drops of ‘belladonna’ herb to increase pupil dilation and appear more attractive,” said Martina Cossu, a professor of economics and business at the University of Amsterdam and co-author of the study. “Almost 400 years later, our study shows that they overlooked the fact that bright eyes with constricted pupils appear more attractive than dilated pupils.”
