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Kid's Looks May Affect Mom's Love: Study

Women more likely than men to look away from ugly babies

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 24, 2009 12:27 PM CDT

(Newser) – A mother’s love may be “determined by facial attractiveness,” a new study suggests in finding that women were more likely than men to avert their gaze from an unattractive baby. Researchers showed men and women photos of normal and abnormal infants; men and women gave equal attractiveness ratings to the abnormal babies, but women tried harder not to look at the less-cute pictures, HealthDay News reports.

A baby's "facial attractiveness" may affect a mother's love, a study suggests. (Shutterstock)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 3 comments

JonmarkP

Jun 24, 2009 11:16 AM CDT

What about when the kid is screwed up by how ugly the mother is? Barbara Bush, for example.

brawne

Jun 24, 2009 6:09 AM CDT

I have a theory that everything in life can be reduced to a Seinfeld episode----you have to look at the baaabee.

Unaffiliated

Jun 24, 2009 6:08 AM CDT

Note that the women in this study were not the mothers of the children. There's nothing to suggest that mothers find babies with facial deformities less desirable. The study only suggests *women* found babies with facial deformities less desirable.

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Kid's Looks May Affect Mom's Love: Study

Women more likely than men to look away from ugly babies

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

parenting • women • men • love • baby • mother • babies • looks

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More Newser Stories

To Curb Obesity, Give Babies Finger Food

Don't feed them pureed meals: study

Kids' Surnames a Dilemma for Hyphenated Parents

Does baby get 4 last names?

Health Ads Rip Family Bed for Baby

But critics slash horror 'co-sleeping' campaign, call it headline-grabbing distraction

New Low-Cal Dr Pepper 'Not for Women'

Soda launches extra-manly marketing campaign

Babies Cut Dads' Testosterone

That makes men better parents, researchers believe

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Kid's Looks May Affect Mom's Love: Study

Women more likely than men to look away from ugly babies

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

parenting • women • men • love • baby • mother • babies • looks

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

To Curb Obesity, Give Babies Finger Food

Don't feed them pureed meals: study

Kids' Surnames a Dilemma for Hyphenated Parents

Does baby get 4 last names?

Health Ads Rip Family Bed for Baby

But critics slash horror 'co-sleeping' campaign, call it headline-grabbing distraction

New Low-Cal Dr Pepper 'Not for Women'

Soda launches extra-manly marketing campaign

Babies Cut Dads' Testosterone

That makes men better parents, researchers believe

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?