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How your face betrays your personality and health

David Robson

Конец формы

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(Getty Images)

We are more than just a pretty face. It turns out the shape, size and even colour of our looks can relay some very important information about our personalities, health and sexuality. David Robson investigates.

But what does the self-portrait phenomenon say about the people who take them, and about society in general?

You might expect a great philosopher to look past our surface into the depths of the soul – but Ancient Greek thinkers were surprisingly concerned with appearance. Aristotle and his followers even compiled a volume of the ways that your looks could reflect your spirit.

"Soft hair indicates cowardice and coarse hair courage," they wrote. Impudence, the treatise says, was evident in "bright, wise-open eyes with heavy blood-shot lids"; a broad nose, meanwhile, was a sign of laziness, like in cattle.

Sensuous, fleshy lips fared little better. The philosophers saw it as a sign of folly, "like an ass", while those with especially thin mouths were thought to be proud, like lions.

The Ancient Greeks believed wide, flaring nostrils suggested a person could be lazy (Getty Images)

Today, we are taught not to judge a book by its cover. But while it is wise not to set too much by appearances, psychologists are finding that your face offers a window on our deepest secrets. Even if you keep a stony poker face, your features can reveal details about your personality, your health, and your intelligence.

Assertive structure

“The idea is that our biology, like genes and hormone levels, influences our growth, and the same mechanisms will also shape our character,” explains Carmen Lefevre at Northumbria University.

Consider the face’s bone structure – whether it is relatively short and wide or long and thin. Lefevre has found that people with higher levels of testosterone tend to be wider-faced with bigger cheekbones, and they are also more likely to have more assertive, and sometimes aggressive, personalities.

(Getty Images)

The link between face shape and dominance is surprisingly widespread, from capuchin monkeys – the wider the face, the more likely they are to hold a higher rank in the group’s hierarchy – to professional football players. Examining the 2010 World Cup, Keith Welker at the University of Boulder, Colorado, recently showed that the ratio of the width and height of the footballers’ faces predicted both the number of fouls among midfielders, and the number of goals scored by the forwards.

(To calculate this yourself, compare the distance from ear-to-ear with the distance between the top of your eyes, and your upper lip. The average ratio of width-to-height  is around 2 – Abraham Lincoln was 1.93)

(Getty Images)

It may even clue you in to a politician’s motives. Using volunteers to rate former US presidents on different psychological attributes, Lefevre found that face shape seemed to reflect their perceived ambition and drive. John F Kennedy had a thicker-set face than 19th Century Chester Arthur, for instance. Such analyses of historical figures are perhaps best taken with a pinch of salt, however, and it has to be said that other traits, such as cooperation and intelligence, should be equally important for success.

Plump cheeks

As you might expect, your health and medical history are also written in your countenance – and the detail it offers is surprising. The amount of fat on your face, for instance, provides a stronger indication of your fitness than more standard measures, such as your body mass index. Those with thinner faces are less likely to suffer infections, and when they do, the illness is less severe; they also tend to have lower rates of depression and anxiety, probably because mental health is often closely related to the body’s fitness in general.

How could the plumpness of your cheeks say so much about you? Benedict Jones at the University of Glasgow thinks a new understanding of fat’s role in the body may help explain it. “How healthy you are isn’t so much about how much fat you have, but where you have that fat,” he says. Pear-shaped people, with more weight around the hips and bottom but slimmer torsos, tend to be healthier than “apples” with a spare tyre around the midriff, since the adipose tissue around the chest is thought to release inflammatory molecules that can damage the core organs. Perhaps the fullness of your face reflects the fatty deposits in the more harmful areas, Jones says. Or it could be that facial fat is itself dangerous for some reason.

Wide-faced capuchin monkeys - just like humans - were thought to have more aggressive personalities (Thinkstock)

Besides these more overt cues, very subtle differences in skin colour can also reveal your health secrets. Jones and Lefevre emphasise this has nothing to do with the tones associated with ethnicity, but barely-noticeable tints that may reflect differences in lifestyle. You appear to be in more robust health, for instance, if your skin has a slightly yellowish, golden tone. The pigments in question are called carotenoids, which, as the name suggest, can be found in orange and red fruit and veg. Carotenoids help build a healthy immune system, says Lefevre. “But when we’ve eaten enough, they layer in the skin and dye it yellow. We exhibit them, because we haven’t used them to battle illness.” The glow of health, in turn, contributes significantly to your physical attraction – more so, in fact, than the more overt tones that might accompany a trip to the tanning salon.

A blush of pink, meanwhile, should signal the good circulation that comes with an active lifestyle – and it might also be a sign of a woman’s fertility. Jones has found that women tend to adopt a slightly redder flush at the peak of the menstrual cycle, perhaps because estradiol, a sex hormone, leads the blood vessels in the cheek to dilate slightly. It may be one of many tiny shifts in appearance and behaviour that together make a woman slightly more attractive when she is most likely to conceive.

Looking smart

As Jones points out, these secrets were hiding in plain sight – yet we were slow to uncover them. At the very least, this knowledge helps restore the reputation of “physiognomy”, which has suffered a somewhat chequered reputation since Aristotle’s musings. Tudor king Henry VIII was so sceptical of the idea that he even banned quack “professors” from profiting from their readings, and its status took a second bashing in the early 20th Century, when it was associated with phrenology – the mistaken idea that lumps and bumps on your head can predict your behaviour.

But now the discipline is gaining credibility, we may find that there are many more surprises hiding in your selfies. Intriguingly, we seem to be able to predict intelligence from someone’s face with modest accuracy – though it’s not yet clear what specific cues make someone look smart. (Needless to say, it is not as simple as whether or not they wear glasses.) Others are examining the “gaydar”. We often can guess someone’s sexual orientation within a split-second, even when there are no stereotypical clues, but it’s still a mystery as to what we’re actually reading. Further research might explain exactly how we make these snap judgements.

(Thinkstock)

It will also be interesting to see how the link between personality, lifestyle and appearance changes across the lifetime. One study managed to examine records of personality and appearance, following subjects from the 1930s to the 1990s. The scientists found that although baby-faced men tended to be less dominant in their youth, they grew to be more assertive as the years wore on – perhaps because they learnt to compensate for the expectations brought about by their puppyish appearance.

More intriguingly, the authors also found evidence of a “Dorian Gray effect” – where the ageing face began to reflect certain aspects of the personality that hadn’t been obvious when the people were younger. Women who had more attractive, sociable, personalities from adolescence to their 30s slowly started to climb in physical attractiveness, so that in their 50s they were considered better-looking than those who had been less personable but naturally prettier. One possibility is that they simply knew how to make the best of their appearance, and that their inner confidence was reflected on subtle differences in expression.

(Getty Images)

After all, there is so much more to our appearance than the bone structure and skin tone, as one particularly clever study recently demonstrated. The scientists asked volunteers to wear their favourite clothes, and then took a photo of their face. Even though the clothes themselves were not visible in the mug shots, impartial judges considered them to be considerably more attractive than other pictures of the participants. The finding is particularly striking, considering that they were asked to keep neutral expressions: somehow, the boosted self-esteem shone through anyway.

Our faces aren’t just the product of our biology. We can’t change our genes or our hormones – but by cultivating our personality and sense of self-worth, they may begin to mirror something far more important.

TOPICAL VOCABULARY

Character and Appearance

absent-minded

рассеянный, невнимательный

add to one's attraction

делать более привлекательным

appeal to smb.

привлекать

aquiline

орлиный (о носе)

attractive

привлекательный

bald

лысый; плешивый

bear no resemblance to smb.

быть непохожим на кого-либо

be characteristic of smb.

быть характерным для кого-либо

be dressed in smth.

быть одетым во что-либо

be dressed up

быть разодетым

be in the habit of doing smth.

иметь привычку что-либо делать

be in one's mid/late thirties,

быть в возрасте за 30, 40

forties, etc.

и т.д.

be the perfect type of smb.

быть воплощением/ превосходным образцом кого-либо

be very much the same in appearance

быть очень похожим внешне

beauty

красавица

broad-shouldered

широкоплечий

calm

спокойный

capable

способный

charming

очаровательный

close-set

близко поставленные (о глазах)

clumsy

неуклюжий

coarse

грубый

comb back

зачёсывать назад

complexion

цвет лица

conduct

поведение

considerate

отзывчивый, чуткий

constitution

сложение

cordial

сердечный, радушный

courage

храбрость, отвага, смелость, мужество, бодрость духа

curious

1) любознательный

2) любопытный

3) возбуждающий любопытство

curly

кудрявый, вьющийся (о волосах)

dark-skinned

смуглый, темнокожий

deep-set

глубоко посаженные (о глазах)

delicately built

хрупкого телосложения

determined

решительный, твёрдый

dimpled

с ямочками (о щеках)

done in a knot

собранные в узел (о волосах)

dreamy

мечтательный

dress tastily/cleanly/smarty

одеваться со вкусом/аккуратно/ модно, элегантно

enjoy good health

обладать отменным здоровьем

envious

завистливый

even-tempered

уравновешенный

extravagant

1) сумасбродный, нелепый

2) расточительный

fair-haired

светловолосый

fat

толстый, полный

finely-curved

с красивым изгибом

firmness

1) твёрдость

2) неизменность, постояноство, непоколебимость

frank

откровенный

freckled

- веснушчатый

fussy

суетливый, беспокойный

generosity

1) великодушие, благородство

2) щедрость

generous

1) великодушный, благородный

2) щедрый

gentle

1) мягкий, добрый, кроткий

2) нежный, ласковый

gesture

жест

gloomy

1) мрачный

2) угрюмый, подавленный

3) хмурый, унылый

go back on one's words

нарушать слово, отказываться от своих слов

good-looking

красивый, интересный, хорошенький

good looks

хорошие внешние данные, красота, миловидность

good mixer

общительный человек

handsome

красивый

have a high opinion of oneself

быть о себе высокого мнения

have a way with smb.

быть обаятельным, располагать к себе

have smth. one's own way

поступать по-своему

hazel

карий (о глазах)

honesty

честность, правдивость, прямота

hooked

крючковатый (о носе)

hot-tempered

вспыльчивый

humility

смирение, покорность, кротость

hypocritical

лицемерный

ignoramus

невежда

ill-bred

плохо воспитанный

ill-mannered

с плохими манерами

ill-tempered

с плохим характером

the very image of smb.

точная копия кого-либо

industrious

трудолюбивый, усердный, прилежный

inquiring

любознательный

inquisitive

любознательный, пытливый

intellect

интеллект

intellectual

Интеллектуальный, умный

intelligence

ум, смышлёность

intelligent

умный

jealous

ревнивый

listless

равнодушный, безразличный, апатичный

long-armed

с длинными руками

long-legged

длинноногий

look like smb.

быть похожим на кого-либо

look one's age

выглядеть на свои годы

look old/young for one's age

выглядеть старым/молодо

mediocrity

посредственность

(of) medium height

среднего роста

mild

тихий, мягкий

modest

скромный

narrow-minded

ограниченный, недалекий, с предрассудками

narrow-shouldered

узкоплечий

naughty

непослушный, шаловливый

nervous

1) нервный

2) нервирующий

3) взволнованный

nosy

любопытный, сующий всюду свой нос

(dis)obedient

(не)послушный, (не)покорный

obstinate

упрямый, упорный

open-handed

щедрый

parted on the right/left side/in the middle

с пробором справа/ слева/ посередине

patience

терпение

patient

терпеливый

pensive

задумчивый, мечтательный

plait

коса

ins

заплетённый в косы

plump

полный, толстый, пухлый

pointed

острый (о подбородке)

(im)polite

(не)вежливый

pragmatic

прагматичный, практичный

precocious

развитый не по годам (часто с отрицательной коннотацией)

quarrelsome

вздорный, драчливый, задиристый

resemble smb.

походить на кого-либо

reserved

сдержанный, замкнутый, необщительный

responsible

ответственный, разумный

responsive

отзывчивый, чувствительный

rude

грубый

scrooge

скряга

self-assured

самоуверенный

selfish

эгоистичный

sense of humour

чувство юмора

sensible

разумный

sensitive

1) чувствительный, восприимчивый

2) обидчивый

serious

серьезный

silky

шелковистый (о волосах)

sincere

искренний

sincerity

искренность

shoulder length

длиной до плеч (о волосах)

shrewd

1) проницательный, тонкий (об уме)

2) хитрый, злобный

shy

робкий

skinny

тощий

slanting

раскосый

slender

стройный

slim

1) тонкий, изящный, стройный

2) хрупкий (о телосложении)

(unsociable

(не)общительный

solidly-built

крепкого телосложения

spendthrift

мот, транжира

steep

крутой (о лбе)

stingy

скупой, жадный

straight

прямой

stubborn

упрямый, упорный

sympathetic

сочувственный, сочувствующий

take after smb.

походить на кого-либо, быть похожим

thrifty

экономный, бережливый

thoughtful

1) думающий, мыслящий

2) заботливый, внимательный

timid

скромный, робкий

tolerance

терпимость

tolerant

терпимый

ugly

уродливый

up-turned

вздёрнутый (о носе)

wavy

волнистый (о волосах)

weak-willed

слабовольный

well-bred

хорошо воспитанный

well-brought up

хорошо воспитанный

wicked

1) злой, злобный

2) безнравственный, порочный, грязный

wise

мудрый

witty

остроумный

wrinkled

морщинистый

Conversational Formulas:

He is always the heart and soul of the company.

Он всегда — душа компании.

She has lost her good looks.

Она подурнела.

She is the picture of health.

Она — кровь с молоком.

They arc as like as two peas.

Они похожи как две капли воды.

They get along well with each other.

Они хорошо ладят друг с другом.

В пособии использованы материалы:

  1. Меркулова Е.М. и др. English for University Students: reading, writing and conversation. СПб.: Издательство Союз, 2000.-384 с.

2. Гарбар И.Л. Family Life: Учебное пособие. Мурманск: МГПИ, 2002.-111с.

3. Человек со шрамом и другие рассказы/ Адаптация текста, словарь Г.К. Магидсон-Степановой; Упражнения Л.Т. Добровольской; Под ред. Е. Л. Заниной.-М.:Рольф: 1999.- 144с., с илл.- (Английский клуб).- (Домашнее чтение).

4. Источник: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

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