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"\n\tAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below\n\t\n\n\n\nYou know that old adage that everyone hates the sound of her own voice? It turns out we might not be as self-critical as we thought \u2014 and for proof, look no further than your best friend.According to a new study by the University of British Columbia, we tend to pick friends with similar voices, because the familiarity creates \"a soothing sense of community.\" The fascinating research also provided evidence of gendered voice preference. Specifically, we tend to like voices that sound as if they are coming from bigger men (a \"large\" sound) and smaller women (breathier and youthful). Why \"breathy\" and \"youthful\" for women? Look no further than our cultural obsession with health and being young.Of course, voice preference is also divided by location. For example, those of us who live in NYC might find a Kardashian drawl more irritating than native Californians. And if you're wondering why you go crazy for a guy with an accent, there's research to support that as well\u2014we're innately drawn to things that seem exotic.So stop hating on your voice, because it has scientific fact to back it up. If you still need convincing, give your BFF a call.Related: Is Medical Research Endangering Women's Health?Related: Smarter People Sleep Less and Have More Sex, According to ResearchPhoto credit: Getty ImagesVia ELLE"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a21892/friends-voice-research-study/>