Face-ism Effect and Head Canting in One's Own and Others' Photographs

The influence of face-ism (i.e., the attribution of positive characteristics to people in close-up shots) in photographs picturing oneself and others was assessed in 51 female and 28 male university students. Three different shots (portrait, half-figure, and whole figure) were taken of all subjects. After rating their own physical attractiveness, subjects were asked to assess attractiveness and rate each shot on an analog scale. The same procedure was used for the pictures of two individuals, chosen randomly from those previously tested (one male and one female) and with whom the subject was not familiar. Analyses with ANOVA revealed that unfamiliar male subjects received lower evaluations in attractiveness compared to self and unfamiliar female rating. As to pictures of nonfamiliar individuals, there was a clear preference for short-distance shots (portrait), whereas for pictures portraying oneself there was a tendency to prefer medium-distance shots (half-figure, whole figure). Multiple regression analyses revealed a positive relationship between the general attractiveness evaluation of the subject and the rating of each shot for both one's own and others' photographs. Seventy-one percent of all subjects, independent of gender, exhibited head canting with a mean angle of 5.1°. This is much higher than that found in natural settings and media portraits and may be explained by the sense of embarrassment and discomfort usually experienced in a photographic setting.