Feast your eyes on the iris.
Having the luxury of choosing your eye color is certainly a wonderful thing. But new research reveals that pupil size and iris brightness are the real reasons you make money.
“Brighter irises and larger pupils led to larger donations,” experts from the Netherlands' Leiden University noted in a recent report on how our eyes influence others' perceptions of us — as well as their willingness to donate charitable funds.
The team conducted two experimental studies, where they had participants categorize images of non-human primates — furballs in the monkey family — with changing eyes.
In the inaugural study, 64 participants were shown images of 32 different species, including chimpanzees, bonobos, and pig-tailed macaques, whose pupil size was manipulated to appear narrow or dilated while maintaining iris brightness.
“We ask participants how much they would donate for each photo, and rate them on how nice, friendly, and attractive they are,” the investigators wrote. They noted that donations “increased for images with dilated pupils only in species with a bright iris.”
Participants also viewed animals with larger pupils as cuter, friendlier, and more attractive than creatures lacking the “look at me” trait.
In the second investigation, analysts manipulated pupil size and iris brightness.
“Participants donated significantly when they were exposed to images showing primates with a bright rather than a dark iris,” the professionals determined. “Donations were also greater when pupils were depicted as divers rather than dilators.”
Study participants rated primates with brighter irises as cute if their pupils were dilated, and less cute if their pupils were constricted.
Survey participants also viewed primates with brighter iris as being more friendly if their pupils were dilated, and less friendly if their pupils were constricted. Participants also described primates with brighter irises as more attractive only if they had dilated pupils.
The data reflects previous findings from research conducted by Zachary Estes of the University of London. In a study conducted in July, Estes confirmed that “people appear more attractive when their iris is larger, which shows greater brightness in their eyes.”
Cosmetic procedures to lighten the iris, known as corneal pigmentation, are very popular among girls who want to become the apple of someone's eye.
Leiden University insiders seem to support the belief that beauty—not to mention financial generosity—does exist eye From the beholder.
“Our results show that small changes in perceived eye shape influence behavior and emotional responses,” the doctors said.
“Donating behavior and emotional responses are importantly affected when we manipulate iris brightness and pupil size in our images,” they added.
“Perceived attractiveness and friendliness were greatest in photos with bright irises and large pupils.”
