The current literature shows mixed results regarding whether the perception of facial attractiveness is automatic, i.e. that it operates independently from attentional resources. We argue that an evolutionary perspective on mating strategies provides a comprehensive account of the findings. In two studies, we used the locus-of-slack logic in a psychological refractory period paradigm. Task 1 was a speeded judgment of tone pitch (low vs. high), and Task 2 was a speeded judgment of whether a face was attractive or unattractive on two difficulty levels. Male and female participants judged the attractiveness of opposite-sex faces (Study 1, n = 73) or same-sex faces (Study 2, n = 94) in this paradigm. Results indicate that men do not need attentional resources when processing female faces (Study 1), but require attentional resources when processing same-sex faces (Study 2). In contrast, women need attentional resources to process the attractiveness of opposite as well as same-sex faces.

当前的文献显示出关于面部吸引力的感知是否是自动的，即它是否独立于注意力资源运作的混合结果。我们认为，对交配策略的进化观点提供了对发现的全面描述。在两项研究中，我们在心理不应期范式中使用了松弛轨迹逻辑。任务1是对音调（低与高）的快速判断，任务2是对脸部在两个难度级别上是有吸引力还是没有吸引力的快速判断。男性和女性参与者判断异性面孔（研究1，n  = 73）或同性面孔（研究2，n）的吸引力 = 94）。结果表明，男性在处理女性面孔时不需要注意力资源（研究1），而在处理同性面孔时则需要注意力资源（研究2）。相反，女性需要注意力资源来处理异性和同性面孔的吸引力。