The Neuroscience of Love and Kpop: Why do we fall in love with our idols?

We all love beautiful things. But why? I know I love my biases. I know a photocard, poster or video of LeeKnow and JungKook will make me smile.  But I am always curious about why I am so magnetized by the beauty of idols.  

I’ve kept this question in the back of my head as I have been learning more about neuro-aesthetics (how the brain processes and appreciates aesthetic experiences).  And I stumbled upon some very cool stuff about the science of beauty. 

There’s actually a neuroscientist named Anjan Chatterjee who has researched the science of beauty.  (My dream job! This is his Ted Talk here.)  Basically he is using ideas from evolutionary psychology and brain science to figure out why we find certain things attractive. 

Chatterjee thinks that our love for beauty comes from way back in human history. He says certain facial features or natural landscapes may have been deemed attractive because they signaled health, fertility, or safety. For example, symmetrical faces or lush greenery might have been associated with good genes or abundant resources. Signs of good health, strong babies, and a safe place to live trigger our brains into attraction.   It's like our brains are wired to like these things because they were helpful for our ancestors.

Did you know humans also have a weird tendency link beauty with goodness? Your bias must be good, right?  Gorgeous LeeKnow or Mina must be kind, right?  It's almost like our brains are wired to see good and beauty together. It must be why attractive people seem to have it easier in life. People think they're smarter, nicer, and more trustworthy. Teachers are nice to them. They even get better jobs and lighter prison sentences!

Of course, that means flaws are often seen as less good, less kind, less smart, and less hardworking. It's like we have this idea that if someone looks different, they must be bad. The media probably reinforces this – celebrating the perfectly symmetrical face or often using disfigured faces to show villains.  Helpful to be aware of how this influences us!

The Intersection of Beauty and K-Pop

Of course, many K-pop idols possess symmetrical facial features, which contributes to their appeal. This symmetry can trigger positive emotional responses in viewers, as it aligns with our innate preferences for attractiveness. 

And symmetry is not the only factor that contributes to facial attractiveness. Other factors include:

• Averageness: Faces that are considered average (not too extreme in either direction) are often perceived as more attractive.

• Youthfulness: Youthful features, such as smooth skin and full lips, are often associated with beauty.

• Cultural preferences: Cultural factors can influence what is considered beautiful in different societies.

• Personal preferences: This is why we have biases!  Individual preferences and experiences can also shape our perception of beauty.

The combination of symmetrical features, youthful appearance, and cultural or personal preferences often contributes to the appeal of K-pop idols. And when they seem so attractive to us, they also strike us as extra nice, extra good, extra hardworking.  All these factors come alive and create a powerful appeal among fans.

Beyond the Surface

Yes, our idols are gorgeous and seem extra good. But I don’t want to forget things such as talent, personality, and social connection that also make K-pop so awesome. At least now I understand a little more about why my brain loves the beauty of K-pop so much!