Eye Size at Peak Attractiveness for Self and Other Faces in Individuals with High Self-Face Dissatisfaction

It is well known that faces with large eyes are generally perceived as more attractive. However, it remains unclear whether individuals with high levels of dissatisfaction with their faces assess them in the same way. This study investigated whether the eye size at which the face is perceived the most attractive in one's face and others’ faces differs based on the degree of self-face dissatisfaction one has. Thirty-one Japanese university students completed the Face Dissatisfaction Scale and rated the attractiveness of self-face and other-face photos with 11 different eye magnifications (0%, ± 10%, ± 20%, ± 30%, ± 40%, and ±50%). A two-way analysis of variance showed that individuals with a high degree of self-face dissatisfaction perceive faces with larger eyes as more attractive than individuals with a low degree of self-face dissatisfaction. The finding suggests that high dissatisfaction with self-face may be associated with a large cognitive gap between the actual and the ideal eye size.