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Abstract Humans exhibit consistent color preferences that are often described as a curvilinear pattern across hues. The recent literature posits that color preference is linked to the preference for objects or other entities associated with those colors. However, many studies examine this preference using isoluminant colors, which don’t reflect the natural viewing experience typically influenced by different light intensities. The inclusion of random luminance levels (luminance noise) in chromatic stimuli may provide an initial step towards assessing color preference as it is presented in the real world. Employing mosaic stimuli, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of luminance noise on human color preference. Thirty normal trichromats engaged in a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm, indicating their color preferences between presented pairs. The chromatic stimuli included saturated versions of 8 standard hues, presented in mosaics with varying diameters under different luminance noise conditions. Results indicated that the inclusion of luminance noise increased color preference across all hues, specifically under the high luminance noise range, while the curvilinear pattern remained unchanged. Finally, women exhibit a greater sensitivity to the presence of luminance noise than men, potentially due to differences between men and women in aesthetic evaluation strategies.

The scientific need for standardized, high-quality facial stimuli has driven the creation of several face image databases in recent years. These stimuli are particularly important in facial asymmetry research. However, previous studies have reported facial anthropometric differences across a variety of ethnicities. This highlights the need to investigate whether these differences can also impact the use of face image databases, particularly in facial asymmetry research. In this study, we investigated facial asymmetry-based morphometric differences between the multi-ethnic Chicago Face Database (CFD) and the LACOP Face Database, which is composed of Brazilian subjects. We found reliable differences in facial asymmetry between the two databases, which were related to ethnic groups. Specifically, differences in eye and mouth asymmetry seem to drive these differences. The asymmetry-based morphometric differences among databases and ethnicities found in this study reinforce the necessity of creating multi-ethnic face databases.

Humans, like other species, have a preference for symmetrical visual stimuli, a preference that is influenced by factors such as age, sex, and artistic training. In particular, artistic training seems to decrease the rejection of asymmetry in abstract stimuli. However, it is not known whether the same trend would be observed in relation to concrete stimuli such as human faces. In this article, we investigated the role of expertise in visual arts, music, and dance, in the perceived beauty and attractiveness of human faces with different asymmetries. With this objective, the beauty and attractiveness of 100 photographs of faces with different degrees of asymmetry were evaluated by 116 participants with different levels of art expertise. Expertise in visual arts and dance was associated with the extent to which facial asymmetry influenced the beauty ratings assigned to the faces. The greater the art expertise in visual arts and dance, the more indifferent to facial asymmetry the participant was to evaluate beauty. The same effect was not found for music and neither for attractiveness ratings. These findings are important to help understand how face aesthetic evaluation is modified by artistic training and the difference between beauty and attractiveness evaluations.

The consequences of risky behavior in a developing country like Brazil requires complex analysis, involving multiple variables, such as those related to life history. Age, civil status, parental status and subjective life expectancy may moderate the perception of risk behavior and its attraction. Thus, the research aimed to identify factors in the history of life related to risky behavior in the Brazilian context. To this end, the scale Risk-propensity Scale was applied in 358 participants over 18 years. The results showed that the dimensions Perception and Attractiveness were impacted by the context and history of life. In general, the younger, unmarried, childless, and the ones that expected to live less tended to perceive as less risky the behaviors and to risk more. These results are consistent with the evolutionary perspective of the life cycle, which submits the behavioral dispositions to the priorities for each age: growth, reproduction and maintenance.

Na compreensão sobre a hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) é importante considerar a influência dos conhecimentos e crenças associados à doença, bem como, os recursos disponíveis para o seu tratamento. Este trabalho analisa itinerários terapêuticos de três famílias de classe popular do tipo extensa que possuíam portadores de HAS. Investigou-se as alternativas adotadas, os determinantes das escolhas, a avaliação sobre os serviços utilizados e os reflexos da interação com os serviços no cuidado doméstico. Foi realizado um estudo etnográfico em um bairro popular de Salvador por meio de observação e entrevistas semi-estruturadas com informantes em espaços domiciliares e institucionais. Constatou-se que os itinerários das famílias participantes não seguiam um padrão rígido, sendo influenciados pelas experiências prévias com a hipertensão e outras doenças, pelo suporte social disponível e pelas condições do atendimento do sistema formal no bairro. Observou-se, também, a apropriação e adaptação do conhecimento técnico de saúde pelos grupos familiares.In order to properly understand high blood pressure (HBP), or arterial hypertension, it is important to examine the influence of knowledge and beliefs associated with the condition, as well as the resources available for its treatment. This study analyzes the treatment experiences of three low-income extended families that include members with HBP. The study investigated the various alternatives that were adopted, determinants of choices, evaluation of the services used, and the impact of interaction with health services on care in the home. An ethnographic study was performed in a low-income neighborhood in Salvador, Bahia State, using direct observation and semi-structured interviews with key informants in home and institutional settings. The study found that the treatment experiences of the participating families did not follow a rigid pattern, but were influenced by prior experiences with hypertension and other diseases, available social support, and conditions in the formal health care system available in the neighborhood. The study also detected a grasp and adaptation of technical health knowledge by families.

Diferenças de gênero em comportamentos de risco podem ser explicadas pela teoria evolucionista, que prediz diferenças conforme o domínio avaliado. Visando a investigar esse problema, utilizou-se uma escala de propensão ao risco com 358 pessoas, que responderam um questionário de 15 itens, cobrindo cinco domínios, avaliados quanto às dimensões Percepção, Atratividade e Probabilidade de engajamento. Em geral, foram encontradas diferenças de gênero nas dimensões, mas a análise dos domínios sugeriu diferenças apenas em Desafio ambiental, e Acasalamento e recursos. Esses resultados confirmam a literatura quanto à maior propensão dos homens ao risco, mas também sugerem que o tipo de domínio envolvido pode ser relevante na propensão ao risco. Discute-se a necessidade de novas pesquisas que refinem os presentes achados. Palavras-chave: percepção de risco; comportamento de risco; psicologia evolucionista; diferenças de gênero.

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