Why ladies are more likely to fall for a lookalike



They say that opposites attract. Well they are probably wrong, according to scientists. A study has found that women are most attracted to men who look just like them.



The results could go some way to explaining what drew stars such as David and Victoria Beckham, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, and Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis to each other in the first place.



The University of St Andrews psychologists found that women preferred men who were masculine-looking but also had features that resembled their own.



Were these celebrity couples drawn to each other because of their similar looks? David and Victoria Beckham, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Johnny Depp and Vanesa Paradis, and Kelly Osbourne and Luke Worrell



It is thought that facial resemblance might help to cancel out any issues of mistrust that women normally associated with strong masculine characteristics.



The research, which is published this week by the scientific journal Behavioural Ecology, used computer digital techniques to manipulate men's faces and show them to 60 women.



Faces were made to look more or less masculine, and more or less like the woman looking at the picture. The women rated the faces for attractiveness.

The study was carried out by Tamsin Saxton, a postdoctoral research fellow funded by the Economics and Social Research Council, based at the University's School of Psychology.



She said the women were more likely to pick a man with similar characteristics to themselves.



She said: 'Previous research has often found that women can be attracted to masculine men, but also a bit suspicious of them.



'However, women tend to trust men more if they look like them. So perhaps the resemblance cancelled out the women's suspicions.



'Or maybe the women felt they were better matched with men who looked like them, because if two people resemble each other, they might both be attracted to each other.'



The study, which is part of an ongoing research programme, was carried out in collaboration with the University of Liverpool.



Last year scientists at St Andrews discovered that women go for men with more feminine features, such as Depp or Leonardo DiCaprio, because they suggest the type of man who will settle down.



But men prefer women with large eyes and lips like Angelina Jolie - because they think they will be more promiscuous and be up for a one-night stand.



Groups of men and women in their 20s were shown photographs of potential partners and asked to judge whether the person wanted a fling or a serious relationship.

