From Robert-Andrew Horton
Being egocentric, we are attracted to people who look like ourselves (22 March, p 32). However, this presumes we know what we look like. Evolutionarily speaking this has only recently been possible with the advent of quality mirrors and latterly photographs and video: without these aids individuals would have only a vague impression of their appearance.
It may be that knowing what we actually look like has distorted our behaviour. For example, we seek mates who smell different and this increases genetic diversity (23 July 2005, p 12). Should we not similarly be attracted to people who look different to ourselves? Perhaps this been subverted by seeing ourselves in the mirror.
Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK
