The effect of alcohol in the perception of other people’s physical attractiveness is a topic of scientific and social interest that dates back decades, perhaps centuries. This is something that science has tried to answer on more than one occasion.
However, the studies that have investigated this curious universal social phenomenon have always yielded somewhat contradictory results, since to date it has not been possible to establish a direct, verifiable and causal relationship between alcohol consumption and the aesthetic experience in the process. of valuing the beauty of those who drink.
But now a new and interesting study has emerged that contributes a little to the advancement of some definition on this matter, with a slightly more balanced and sensible perspective. An advance that Steve Jobs, famous for its “beer test” you might find interesting.
The central question is very simple: Does the simple act of drinking alcohol make the person who drinks the liquor see other people as more attractive or not?
It seems that the most obvious answer was always there, but it took a research project with relative methodical rigor to find an answer.
It turns out that drinking alcohol makes you more sociable regardless of whether people are pretty or not.
It turns out that researchers from Stanford University have published the results of their recent research project in the most recent edition of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
There, Dr. Molly A. Bowdring of the Stanford Preventive Research Center and Dr. Michael Sayette of the University of Pittsburgh conclude that alcohol consumption actually increases the likelihood of wanting to approach people who are already considered attractive. But that doesn’t alter the perception of how attractive others would be.
To verify this, groups of 18 couples of male friends were formed who evaluated the attractiveness of people they saw in photos and videos. In a context where participants were told that they could have the opportunity to interact with any of the reviewed girls in the future.
There were two sessions where they chose who they would like to interact with. On one occasion both men received alcohol to drink and on the second occasion both men received a non-alcoholic drink. As if they were going to a bar and something casual.
The results showed that in reality alcohol consumption did not influence whether a person was perceived as more attractive. But it did affect the likelihood that kids would want to interact with people they found attractive. 1.71 times more.
In the end, alcohol helped make everything more fluid and uninhibited but it did not alter any aesthetic perception.