Happiness Not Necessarily Linked to Beauty, Study Finds : Science File / An exploration of issues and trends affecting science, medicine and the environment.

Beauty and happiness can go together, but not necessarily the way a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon might think. In a study in July’s issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, psychologists from the University of Illinois and Indiana University photographed more than 200 students and surveyed their sense of well-being on a scale from depression to ecstasy. Then other students rated the attractiveness of each head shot using the 10-point scale familiar to many construction workers.

Basically, the attractive students were not much happier than the homelier ones. But because the researchers also found that people with a natural smile were considered slightly better-looking, it does seem that being happy can make you more attractive. Said Indiana psychologist Frank Fujita: “Even the ugliest people can expect to be happy.”