The cheerleader effect (also called the group attractiveness effect) is the tendency to perceive individuals as more attractive when seen as part of a group than when seen alone.

The Research

Studies by Drew Walker and Edward Vul demonstrated that faces presented in groups are consistently rated as more attractive than the same faces presented individually. The effect holds across genders and contexts.

Why It Happens

When viewing a group, the brain processes an average — a composite representation of the faces. That average face is more symmetrical and closer to the population mean than any individual face, and averaged faces are rated as more attractive.

Beyond Attractiveness

The principle extends to evaluation more broadly: products, ideas, and employees presented alongside strong peers receive elevated ratings. Average performers appear better in a strong team context.

Practical Implications

• Profile photo strategy: group photos may actually boost perceived attractiveness
• Hiring: evaluate candidates independently, not comparatively within cohorts
• Pitching: the quality of co-founders and backers affects how your idea is perceived

Reference:

Wikipedia: Cheerleader Effect

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheerleader_effect