If you like somebody, they look better to you. This is why spouses in happy marriages tend to think that their husband or wife looks much better than anyone else thinks that they do.

Source: "The Origins of Pleasure." TEDGlobal 2011. Jul. 2011. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote is from psychologist Paul Bloom's 2011 TED Talk about how we experience things differently depending on what we believe about them. An example of this theory is given in this quote: if you enjoy spending time with someone (presumably, because you think they have an enjoyable personality), you see that person as being more attractive than someone who doesn't know that person would see them. You can see this principle play out in happy couples where both people find each other very attractive -- even though people outside of the relationship do not necessarily find them attractive. Watch the full TED Talk here: Paul Bloom - The Origins of Pleasure

“The Origins of Pleasure.” TEDGlobal 2011. Jul. 2011. Conference Presentation.