# Why do we like/prefer smooth and symmetrical actions over not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 27, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-like-prefer-smooth-and-symmetrical-actions-over-not/164541 "2003-03-27T15:54:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-like-prefer-smooth-and-symmetrical-actions-over-not/164541/1 "2003-03-27T15:54:15Z")
I have been wondering about this for some time. Why do we human beings in general prefer symmetrical objects (in faces/cars/other products) to non-symmetrical ones? Why do we prefer the motions (as in walking, running, swimming, bowling, driving etc.) that are often described as “smooth” or “in sync/rhythm”? Is it something in our genetic make-up or something? There was something about this in the journal American Scientist about our needs to see continuity in images. Could this be similiar? For anyone interested, [here](http://www.sigmaxi.org/amsci/articles/02articles/Purves.html) is the article I’m referring to. Well, its actually an abstract of it. ---
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-like-prefer-smooth-and-symmetrical-actions-over-not/164541/2 "2003-03-27T16:08:34Z")
mmm, apparantly, the more symmetyrical your body and face, the less distorted it is by disease, and thus gives a signal to the opposite sex that we are healthy, and therefor a good potential mate. this statement is backed up by this site, and it also provides an answer for your “motion” question [http://www.beautyworlds.com/form.htm](http://www.beautyworlds.com/form.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Apex\_Rogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@Apex\_Rogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apex_Rogers)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-like-prefer-smooth-and-symmetrical-actions-over-not/164541/3 "2003-03-27T17:15:13Z")
I would think for purposes of motion, the most symmetric and “in sync” motions would be the most efficient and therefore the most desirable to perform. It is only logical to assume people would strive for the most efficient way to perform a task, which is why you don’t see people walk or run herky jerky on purpose. The least wasted motion the better. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-like-prefer-smooth-and-symmetrical-actions-over-not/164541/4 "2003-03-27T17:23:50Z")
Couple of IMHO’s For motion, a smoothe motion is easier to predict, and less stressfull in brain activity to watch (the brain both computes what it the eye gives it as information, and computes expected trajectories from that, these expected trajectories will be closer to the later observed motion if the motion is smoothe). Also when injured it becomes very difficult to move smoothly, so non-smoothe movement could be taken as a sign that the moving person or thing is injured, which again will seem negative to us if we associate with the moving thing. Cheers, Bippy ---
**Author:** ![yme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/35a633/32.png) [@yme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yme)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-like-prefer-smooth-and-symmetrical-actions-over-not/164541/5 "2003-03-27T18:16:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfje \* > \*\*mmm, apparantly, the more symmetyrical your body and face, the less distorted it is by disease, and thus gives a signal to the opposite sex that we are healthy, and therefor a good potential mate. > > this statement is backed up by this site, and it also provides an answer for your “motion” question > > [http://www.beautyworlds.com/form.htm](http://www.beautyworlds.com/form.htm) \*\* So if someone has a crooked nose, does this mean they are unhealthy? ---
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-like-prefer-smooth-and-symmetrical-actions-over-not/164541/6 "2003-03-27T19:08:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yme \* > \*\*So if someone has a crooked nose, does this mean they are unhealthy? \*\* Apparently so. Although like it says “in this day-and-age” we have medicines for that sort of thing. Or something like that. That’s a pretty interesting site. Is there any way I could get my face checked from a website or something in order to determine my symmetricalness? How would I go about doing it? Isn’t there some website of famous movie stars whose faces are tested for symmetry and given a rating? ---
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-like-prefer-smooth-and-symmetrical-actions-over-not/164541/7 "2003-03-27T19:16:51Z")
[Try here](http://www.symmeter.com/) for anyone who’s interested. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-like-prefer-smooth-and-symmetrical-actions-over-not/164541/8 "2003-03-27T20:06:49Z")
## quote: ## Originally posted by yme So if someone has a crooked nose, does this mean they are unhealthy? Well, not necessarily, but it MIGHT mean they lost a fight and were not as strong as the one with the straight nose. Remember you’re dealing with subconscious issues here. Animals will sometimes shun or attack a member of their own species who is different, injured, or deformed. I once had 3 cats. The ones with white feet HATED the one who did not have white feet. None of them were related, but my guess is the white-footed ones thought the solid colored one was abnormal. The animals (which applies to homo sapiens) who prefer lopsided mates are more LIKELY to select a mate with some defect or injury, resulting in a higher percentage of less robust offspring, thus breeding out the tendency to prefer lopsided mates. A vast oversimplification, but I’m sure you get the gist of it.