Research shows that even infants as young as 6 months old perceive and prefer attractive faces compared to unattractive faces. Facial attractiveness is influenced by factors like symmetry, youthfulness, and averageness. When multiple faces are averaged or morphed together, the composite face is often rated as more attractive, especially if it contains 16 or more individual faces. While symmetry is important for facial beauty, it is less important for judging attractiveness in art, where equilibrium or balance of elements is key. Cultural standards of beauty can vary across time and societies in terms of factors like skin color, body features, and masculinity/femininity preferences.