The ugly truth: creativity gives unattractive men a boost, but creative women aren’t so lucky
Creative men who are physically unattractive are just as appealing as handsome, uncreative men, study finds
In the ruthless world of the mating game, plain-looking men instinctively know that being funny, smart or poetic helps to compensate for a less-than-stellar exterior.
That gut feeling has now gained scientific validation from an unusual study published Wednesday.
Average-looking men become more alluring when women sense the man has an imaginative spark, it found.
But for women, sadly, there may not be the same boost.
Indeed, one experiment suggests that less attractive women even worsen their mating chances if they show mental agility.
“Creative women with less attractive faces seem to be perhaps penalised in some way,” said Christopher Watkins, a psychologist at Abertay University in Scotland, who carried out the research.