# Why are humans attracted to pretty things? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 16, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265 "2007-12-16T23:43:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/1 "2007-12-16T23:43:10Z")
I recently read “[Setting Free The Crabs](http://books.google.com/books?id=6P0mCF64NywC&pg=PA60&lpg=PA60&dq=%22setting+free+the+crabs%22&source=web&ots=fPV6gkmgpf&sig=-hmiszS3BUtlouJ16-yqMPSDV_w#PPA60,M1)” by Barbara Kingsolver and was left wondering what it is about pretty objects that humans find so appealing. There are a handful of other animals and birds like weasels and magpies who are attracted to shiny, pretty things too, but most animals don’t seem to care one way or the other. What is it about us - and those few other species - that makes us covet pretty things? Is there a psychological explanation? Or one for why we perceive things as attractive in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/2 "2007-12-16T23:59:01Z")
For one thing, we are a lot smarter than everything else when it comes to higher perception. I think it’s more accurate to say things to which we are attracted are pretty–i.e. the prettiness is not an attribute independent of our perception. In the animal world color and physical flamboyance seem to be prominent in choosing a mate, so I’m not sure I’d be too dismissive of non-human ability to perceive “pretty.” With respect to decorative objects at least, we associate pretty with precious, precious with special, and the drive to be special seems a part of our genes–perhaps related in some way to successful reproduction. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/3 "2007-12-17T00:56:30Z")
\>I think it’s more accurate to say things to which we are attracted are pretty–i.e. the prettiness is not an attribute independent of our perception. Yes. I’m with Chief. Substitute its near synonym “attractive” and you’re asking why we are attracted by things that are attractive. It’s another question why the attributes that seem attractive to us do so. I suspect there are various evolutionary reasons. I just read about an ingredient in some fruits - an antioxidant or a vitamin or an amino acid or something - which is high in fruits having a certain ultraviolet color. Birds that need this ingredient find that color attractive. There are probably a zillion mechanisms like that at work, for all of us. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/4 "2007-12-17T01:43:15Z")
Define “pretty”. OG knows I can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/5 "2007-12-17T02:02:49Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Define “pretty”. OG knows I can’t. [/QUOTE] But I bet you know it when you see it. Like the saying goes, pretty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/6 "2007-12-17T02:08:19Z")
Just speculating, but it could be a self-propogating phenomenon. For example, in a world where people value shiny things, it’s arguably to one’s advantage to value shiny things - for example by picking up a trinket that one finds lying around. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/7 "2007-12-17T02:35:34Z")
Are we attracted to pretty things or do we define the things we are attracted to as “pretty”? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/8 "2007-12-17T03:26:00Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Define “pretty”. OG knows I can’t. [/QUOTE] I have often pondered on this. Why do we find things, some that are quite common, such as sunsets or butterflies, more appealing than spiders or muddy puddles? I don’t know. Some may argue aesthetics need balance or rhythm, but there are always examples that run counter to that. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/9 "2007-12-17T04:12:27Z")
It certainly isn’t humans alone. We tend to judge [this critter](http://www.briansmallphoto.com/photo/colo.jpg) rather elegant - but so does a female loon. And that we find [this flower](http://ablackorchid.com/BardendrumSkinnyCoastP1.jpg) appealing is probably less important (though perhaps not less interesting) than the fact that certain insects do. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/10 "2007-12-17T07:17:45Z")
When I was younger, I was attracted to “pretty things” because I wanted to have sex with them. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![sreeja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@sreeja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sreeja)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/11 "2007-12-17T10:16:24Z")
It is because of that human beings can think the good and bad side of every things.If a good thing find they will be more attracted towards it.I think animals also have the same habit. ---
**Author:** ![9thFloor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/b487fb/32.png) [@9thFloor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/9thFloor)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/12 "2007-12-17T10:22:12Z")
I think the ‘prettiness’ must represent something in the mind of the viewer. Health, evolutionarily speaking for animals including us. And perhaps more than the animal aspect of our humanity when you figure in social stuff, fantasies, Freudian urges, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/13 "2007-12-17T23:00:50Z")
[QUOTE=kniz] When I was younger, I was attracted to “pretty things” because I wanted to have sex with them. 🆒 [/QUOTE] Stay the hell away from my roses. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![tonedef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@tonedef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonedef)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/14 "2007-12-18T09:41:04Z")
[QUOTE=TV time] Are we attracted to pretty things or do we define the things we are attracted to as “pretty”? [/QUOTE] I think we define the things we are attracted to as “pretty”. Because if we are attracted to pretty things. If there was an object that was “pretty” then everyone should find it that way. But people tend to each have a different perception of what is pretty. (i hope that made sense) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/15 "2007-12-18T14:18:58Z")
But it not just a case of finding random things pretty and then saying so - there are certain classes of things that _most_ people find pretty, but not for any reason as obvious as finding certain human attributes pretty - which can easily be explained by functional things such as sexual and social attraction. Why do humans _generally_ find things pretty if they are brightly multicoloured? - sure, not _everybody_ does, but that’s not the point - the point is the question of why lots of people _do_. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/16 "2007-12-19T08:30:59Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Why do humans _generally_ find things pretty if they are brightly multicoloured? - sure, not _everybody_ does, but that’s not the point - the point is the question of why lots of people _do_. [/QUOTE] A large part of that can be answered quite simply: humans are frugivores and most edible fruit are brightly coloured. As a result humans have evolved to find brightly coloured objects attractive because the people who weren’t attracted to brightly coloured objects starved real fast. In reality of course humans were attracted to brightly coloured objects back when we were essentially tree rats and we have retained it ever since because fruit has always remained an important component of our diet. There has almost ceratinly been a sexual add-on to that reaction. People found bright colours attarctive, and hence humans that wore bright colours, such as placing flowers in the hair, painting the skin with ochre or wearing beads became more attarctive. That then led to something of a runaway raction. People that were attracted to bright shiny objects were more likely to carry and wear them, such people became more attarctive beacuse other humans were already attracted to bright shiny fruits which led to an increased benefit in liking bright shiny objects and so forth. IOW the original cause was almost certainly that people liked bright shiny things because food was bright and shiny. Humans then co-opted that liking by turning it into sexual decoration, which further reinforced the attaraction to bright shiny things. Today we still like bright shiny things because they seem more edible, but we also like them because they are sexually decorative. Something simialr probably also applies to most other “pretty” things. We find clear water, green fields and so forth to be pretty because those were premium territory where humans evolved. People who found that sort of scenery attractive tended to live longer than people who found stagnant water and dense forest to be pretty. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-humans-attracted-to-pretty-things/430265/17 "2007-12-19T09:02:41Z")
ooo shiny!