Laws of Attraction

### Cold Open

"Anyone who's been in love knows that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Yet whether it's a work of art, a sunset, a panoramic view, or a model on the cover of a magazine, the fact is that many of us behold the same things as beautiful. And the reasons why you're attracted to one thing over another are more universal than you might want to believe. "

### Questions

Is being in sync the key to long-term attraction?

## Games

### Game #1: Who's Doing It?

A couple is embracing. But who's embracing and who's being embraced?

Result: You may have saw one or the other, but your brain perceiving a face at all quickly and efficently was impressive.

So: How your brain is hardwired to see the value in human faces is the first step in understanding how you determine what's attractive. We're all guilty of doing a double take when we see a pretty face. All parts of media know it. Even though most of the population doesn't look like what we see in media. And even though we are influenced by trends, but science says that media is influenced by the trends set by the brain.

### Game #2: Rank Me

Rank 5 men. Then 5 women. Compare your result to volunteers. You only have 10 seconds.

Result: Most of the rankings were the same, no matter if they were judging the same or opposite sex and regardless of sexual preference. 88% of the time, they agreed. But why?

Why: The Fusifrom Gyrus, able to identify features in a face, but what makes someone attractive to your brain? Well, it's not about skin, makeup or hair. It's about the golden ratio, a very specific measurement you're looking for. To learn more, let's play a game.

### Game #3: 10 Numbers

Remember the number when the face looks best to you.

Result: If you chose number 7, or close to it, your brain is responding to the golden ratio, even if you don't know what it is.

Why: The golden ratio is 1.5x tall as it is wide. It can be applied to all facial features. And while the golden ratio may seem like a rare thing, the truth is that the golden ratio isn't attractive because it's different, it's because they're more average. Some scientists believe average characteristics are preferred because they indicate a healthy mate or tribe member, which may result in better healthy offspring.

### Game #4: The Twist

Pick between two faces.

Result: Since image number 1 is more symmetrical and been manipulated by mirroring the right side of the face, you likely picekd that one.

Now let's add a third face.

Result: The third image is symmetrical as well, but the left side is mirrored. More people prefer the third image. Why?

Why: Because the left side is often more expressive than the right side. Facial symmetry is basically signaling good genes.

### Game #5: Four Couples & Three Pairs of Actors

Who really is married, and who's an actor? Only one couple is married.

Result: We're not telling you the true couple. But here's some hints.

How: Couples, after a long time together, they begin to react to life events the same and how they're positioned also plays a role. And happy couples often lean towards one another to indicate empathy.

Result: Couple #3 fit the married role.

So and Why: In order to guarantee survival of offspring, your brain chooses a mate subconsciously chooses a mate who matches you and your genes down to some pretty tiny physical details. Long-term partners have more in common than you may think.

### Game #6: 10 Numbers(Round 2)

Instead of a face, use a body.

Result: Just like with the faces we showed earlier, your brain has a preference.

### Game #7: Sync or Sunk

Using brainwaves, we can determine if couples are in sync. We're going to find out how often that's the case. The contestants are a first date couple, newlyweds, and a couple married for 25 years.

Result: While 80% of volunteers said the 25-year couple would Sync, they sunk! The winners were the newlyweds. People who laugh together often sync up. In second place, the first date couple. But the 25-year married couple came in dead last.

Why: Even though they came in last, the 25-year married couple had their brains nearly in sync most of the time. The first date couple had an average score.

### Game #8: Lovers & Fighters

Pick which animals are lovers and which are fighters.

Result: 2 are lovers, 1 are fighters.

So: If the laws of attraction have yet to lead you to your one true love, don't worry, there are plenty of fish in the sea!

## List of Experts

* Coren Apicella
* Suzanne Dikker(NYU, Guest)