The attraction factor: How being seen as an artist ups your appeal

In a recent study, researchers have delved into a hypothesis as timeless as Darwin - the idea that music production might have evolved as a way to flaunt biological fitness in the dating game. But the plot thickens; the study also shines a light on visual artists, comparing their appeal to non-artists like farmers, teachers and physicians.

Imagine this: different portraits are shown to participants, some subtly hinting that the person is an artist, while others suggest more everyday professions. Participants then rated these faces on including attractiveness, interestingness, sympathy and trustworthiness.

Here's where it gets juicy: when asked directly, participants were all for the artists, rating them higher on almost every scale, except for trustworthiness. Interestingly, they found artists particularly... well, interesting!

But hold your horses – it's not all about face value. The study also found that more attractive faces held viewers’ attention longer. This isn't just a case of ‘pretty face, longer gaze’; it suggests that we're genuinely more engaged with people we find attractive.

And for the twist: half-length portraits, showing more of the person's body, got higher scores across the board compared to just facial shots. The researchers are calling this the ‘contextual enhancement effect’. So, next time you're swiping right, remember - a bit more context could be the key to your next match!

Now, for the gender plot twist: the study also looked at whether men and women rated artists differently. But here's the kicker – it seems that gender didn’t play a big role in how artists were rated.

So, what's the takeaway for our music and art lovers out there? Whether you're tweaking a synthesiser or stroking a paintbrush, it seems your creative flair could be giving you an edge in the game of love.

Read the full study here.