51
|
Tognetti A, Durand V, Barkat-Defradas M, Hopfensitz A. Does he sound cooperative? Acoustic correlates of cooperativeness. Br J Psychol 2019; 111:823-839. [PMID: 31820449 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The sound of the voice has several acoustic features that influence the perception of how cooperative the speaker is. It remains unknown, however, whether these acoustic features are associated with actual cooperative behaviour. This issue is crucial to disentangle whether inferences of traits from voices are based on stereotypes, or facilitate the detection of cooperative partners. The latter is likely due to the pleiotropic effect that testosterone has on both cooperative behaviours and acoustic features. In the present study, we quantified the cooperativeness of native French-speaking men in a one-shot public good game. We also measured mean fundamental frequency, pitch variations, roughness, and breathiness from spontaneous speech recordings of the same men and collected saliva samples to measure their testosterone levels. Our results showed that men with lower-pitched voices and greater pitch variations were more cooperative. However, testosterone did not influence cooperative behaviours or acoustic features. Our finding provides the first evidence of the acoustic correlates of cooperative behaviour. When considered in combination with the literature on the detection of cooperativeness from faces, the results imply that assessment of cooperative behaviour would be improved by simultaneous consideration of visual and auditory cues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Tognetti
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Astrid Hopfensitz
- Toulouse School of Economics, Université Toulouse 1 Capitole, France
| |
Collapse
|
52
|
Luoto S, Krams I, Rantala MJ. A Life History Approach to the Female Sexual Orientation Spectrum: Evolution, Development, Causal Mechanisms, and Health. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:1273-1308. [PMID: 30229521 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1261-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Women's capacity for sexual fluidity is at least as interesting a phenomenon from the point of view of evolutionary biology and behavioral endocrinology as exclusively homosexual orientation. Evolutionary hypotheses for female nonheterosexuality have failed to fully account for the existence of these different categories of nonheterosexual women, while also overlooking broader data on the causal mechanisms, physiology, ontogeny, and phylogeny of female nonheterosexuality. We review the evolutionary-developmental origins of various phenotypes in the female sexual orientation spectrum using the synergistic approach of Tinbergen's four questions. We also present femme-specific and butch-specific hypotheses at proximate and ultimate levels of analysis. This review article indicates that various nonheterosexual female phenotypes emerge from and contribute to hormonally mediated fast life history strategies. Life history theory provides a biobehavioral explanatory framework for nonheterosexual women's masculinized body morphology, psychological dispositions, and their elevated likelihood of experiencing violence, substance use, obesity, teenage pregnancy, and lower general health. This pattern of life outcomes can create a feedback loop of environmental unpredictability and harshness which destabilizes intrauterine hormonal conditions in mothers, leading to a greater likelihood of fast life history strategies, global health problems, and nonheterosexual preferences in female offspring. We further explore the potential of female nonheterosexuality to function as an alloparental buffer that enables masculinizing alleles to execute their characteristic fast life history strategies as they appear in the female and the male phenotype. Synthesizing life history theory with the female sexual orientation spectrum enriches existing scientific knowledge on the evolutionary-developmental mechanisms of human sex differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Severi Luoto
- English, Drama and Writing Studies, University of Auckland, Arts 1, Building 206, Room 616, 14A Symonds St., Auckland, 1010, New Zealand.
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Indrikis Krams
- Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Markus J Rantala
- Department of Biology & Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
53
|
Dixson BJW, Kennedy-Costantini S, Lee AJ, Nelson NL. Mothers are sensitive to men's beards as a potential cue of paternal investment. Horm Behav 2019; 113:55-66. [PMID: 30978339 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Mating strategy theories assert that women's preferences for androgen dependent traits in men are stronger when the costs of reduced paternal investment are lowest. Past research has shown that preferences for facial masculinity are stronger among nulliparous and non-pregnant women than pregnant or parous women. In two studies, we examine patterns in women's preferences for men's facial hair - likely the most visually conspicuous and sexually dimorphic of men's secondary sexual traits - when evaluating men's masculinity, dominance, age, fathering, and attractiveness. Two studies were conducted among heterosexual pregnant women, mothers, non-contractive and contraceptive users. Study 1 used a between-subjects sample (N = 2103) and found that mothers had significantly higher preferences for beards when judging fathering than all other women. Pregnant women and mothers also judged beards as more masculine and older, but less attractive, than non-contractive and contraceptive users. Parous women judged beards higher for age, masculinity and fathering, but lower for attractiveness, than nulliparous women. Irrespective of reproductive status, beards were judged as looking more dominant than clean-shaven faces. Study 2 used a within-subjects design (N = 53) among women surveyed during pregnancy and three months post-partum. Judgments of parenting skills were higher for bearded stimuli during pregnancy among women having their first baby, whereas among parous women parenting skills judgments for bearded stimuli were higher post-partum. Our results suggest that mothers are sensitive to beardedness as a masculine secondary sexual characteristic that may denote parental investment, providing evidence that women's mate preferences could reflect sexual selection for direct benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barnaby J W Dixson
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
| | | | | | - Nicole L Nelson
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
54
|
A drunk heart speaks a sober mind: Alcohol does not influence the selection of short-term partners with dark triad traits. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
55
|
Marcinkowska UM, Rantala MJ, Lee AJ, Kozlov MV, Aavik T, Cai H, Contreras-Garduño J, David OA, Kaminski G, Li NP, Onyishi IE, Prasai K, Pazhoohi F, Prokop P, Cardozo SLR, Sydney N, Taniguchi H, Krams I, Dixson BJW. Women's preferences for men's facial masculinity are strongest under favorable ecological conditions. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3387. [PMID: 30833635 PMCID: PMC6399235 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39350-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The strength of sexual selection on secondary sexual traits varies depending on prevailing economic and ecological conditions. In humans, cross-cultural evidence suggests women’s preferences for men’s testosterone dependent masculine facial traits are stronger under conditions where health is compromised, male mortality rates are higher and economic development is higher. Here we use a sample of 4483 exclusively heterosexual women from 34 countries and employ mixed effects modelling to test how social, ecological and economic variables predict women’s facial masculinity preferences. We report women’s preferences for more masculine looking men are stronger in countries with higher sociosexuality and where national health indices and human development indices are higher, while no associations were found between preferences and indices of intra-sexual competition. Our results show that women’s preferences for masculine faces are stronger under conditions where offspring survival is higher and economic conditions are more favorable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Urszula M Marcinkowska
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.,Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Anthony J Lee
- Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | | | - Toivo Aavik
- Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Turku, Estonia
| | - Huajian Cai
- Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | | | - Oana A David
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gwenaël Kaminski
- CLLE, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UT2J, Toulouse, 31058, France.,Institut Universitaire de France, 103 boulevard Saint-Michel, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Norman P Li
- School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ike E Onyishi
- Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | | | - Farid Pazhoohi
- Department of Basic Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Pavol Prokop
- Department of Biology, Trnava University, Trnava, Slovakia.,Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Nicolle Sydney
- Department of Zoology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Hirokazu Taniguchi
- Department of Educational Psychology, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Indrikis Krams
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.,Department of Biotechnology, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | | |
Collapse
|
56
|
Cross-Cultural Variation in women’s Preferences for men’s Body Hair. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-019-0107-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
|
57
|
Facial masculinity does not appear to be a condition-dependent male ornament and does not reflect MHC heterozygosity in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:1633-1638. [PMID: 30647112 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1808659116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have called into question the idea that facial masculinity is a condition-dependent male ornament that indicates immunocompetence in humans. We add to this growing body of research by calculating an objective measure of facial masculinity/femininity using 3D images in a large sample (n = 1,233) of people of European ancestry. We show that facial masculinity is positively correlated with adult height in both males and females. However, facial masculinity scales with growth similarly in males and females, suggesting that facial masculinity is not exclusively a male ornament, as male ornaments are typically more sensitive to growth in males compared with females. Additionally, we measured immunocompetence via heterozygosity at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a widely-used genetic marker of immunity. We show that, while height is positively correlated with MHC heterozygosity, facial masculinity is not. Thus, facial masculinity does not reflect immunocompetence measured by MHC heterozygosity in humans. Overall, we find no support for the idea that facial masculinity is a condition-dependent male ornament that has evolved to indicate immunocompetence.
Collapse
|
58
|
Borráz-León JI, Rantala MJ, Cerda-Molina AL. Digit ratio (2D:4D) and facial fluctuating asymmetry as predictors of the dark triad of personality. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
59
|
Krams I, Luoto S, Rubika A, Krama T, Elferts D, Krams R, Kecko S, Skrinda I, Moore FR, Rantala MJ. A head start for life history development? Family income mediates associations between height and immune response in men. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 168:421-427. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Indrikis Krams
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences; University of Tartu; Tartu Estonia
- Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Faculty of Biology; University of Latvia; Rīga Latvia
- Department of Biotechnology; Daugavpils University; Daugavpils Latvia
| | - Severi Luoto
- English, Drama and Writing Studies; University of Auckland; Auckland New Zealand
- School of Psychology; University of Auckland; Auckland New Zealand
| | - Anna Rubika
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology; Daugavpils University; Daugavpils Latvia
| | - Tatjana Krama
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences; University of Tartu; Tartu Estonia
- Department of Biotechnology; Daugavpils University; Daugavpils Latvia
| | - Didzis Elferts
- Department of Botany and Ecology, Faculty of Biology; University of Latvia; Rīga Latvia
| | - Ronalds Krams
- Department of Biotechnology; Daugavpils University; Daugavpils Latvia
| | - Sanita Kecko
- Department of Biotechnology; Daugavpils University; Daugavpils Latvia
| | | | - Fhionna R. Moore
- School of Psychology; University of Dundee; Dundee United Kingdom
| | - Markus J. Rantala
- Department of Biology; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Turku Brain and Mind Centre; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| |
Collapse
|
60
|
Jones BC, Hahn AC, DeBruine LM. Ovulation, Sex Hormones, and Women's Mating Psychology. Trends Cogn Sci 2018; 23:51-62. [PMID: 30477896 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The dual mating strategy hypothesis proposes that women's preferences for uncommitted sexual relationships with men displaying putative fitness cues increase during the high-fertility phase of the menstrual cycle. Results consistent with this hypothesis are widely cited as evidence that sexual selection has shaped human mating psychology. However, the methods used in most of these studies have recently been extensively criticized. Here we discuss (i) new empirical studies that address these methodological problems and largely report null results and (ii) an alternative model of hormonal regulation of women's mating psychology that can better accommodate these new data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benedict C Jones
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK.
| | - Amanda C Hahn
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, USA
| | - Lisa M DeBruine
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK
| |
Collapse
|
61
|
Arnocky S, Hodges-Simeon CR, Ouellette D, Albert G. Do men with more masculine voices have better immunocompetence? EVOL HUM BEHAV 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
|
62
|
Pawlowski B, Borkowska B, Nowak J, Augustyniak D, Drulis-Kawa Z. Human body symmetry and immune efficacy in healthy adults. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 167:207-216. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Boguslaw Pawlowski
- Department of Human Biology; University of Wroclaw; Kuźnicza 35, Wrocław, 50-138 Poland
| | - Barbara Borkowska
- Department of Human Biology; University of Wroclaw; Kuźnicza 35, Wrocław, 50-138 Poland
| | - Judyta Nowak
- Department of Human Biology; University of Wroclaw; Kuźnicza 35, Wrocław, 50-138 Poland
| | - Daria Augustyniak
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology; University of Wroclaw; Przybyszewskiego 63, Wrocław, 51-148 Poland
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology; University of Wroclaw; Przybyszewskiego 63, Wrocław, 51-148 Poland
| |
Collapse
|
63
|
Kordsmeyer TL, Lohöfener M, Penke L. Male Facial Attractiveness, Dominance, and Health and the Interaction between Cortisol and Testosterone. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-018-0098-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
64
|
Dixson BJW, Blake KR, Denson TF, Gooda-Vossos A, O'Dean SM, Sulikowski D, Rantala MJ, Brooks RC. The role of mating context and fecundability in women's preferences for men's facial masculinity and beardedness. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 93:90-102. [PMID: 29705577 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The ovulatory shift hypothesis proposes that women's preferences for masculine physical and behavioral traits are greater at the peri-ovulatory period than at other points of the menstrual cycle. However, many previous studies used self-reported menstrual cycle data to estimate fecundability rather than confirming the peri-ovulatory phase hormonally. Here we report two studies and three analyses revisiting the ovulatory shift hypothesis with respect to both facial masculinity and beardedness. In Study 1, a large sample of female participants (N = 2,161) self-reported their cycle phase and provided ratings for faces varying in beardedness (clean-shaven, light stubble, heavy stubble, full beards) and masculinity (-50%, -25%, natural, +25% and +50%) in a between-subjects design. In Study 2, 68 women provided the same ratings data, in a within-subjects design in which fertility was confirmed via luteinising hormone (LH) tests and analysed categorically. In Study 2, we also measured salivary estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) at the low and high fertility phases of the menstrual cycle among 36 of these women and tested whether shifts in E, P or E:P ratios predicted face preferences. Preferences for facial masculinity and beardedness did not vary as predicted with fecundability in Study 1, or with respect to fertility as confirmed via LH in Study 2. However, consistent with the ovulatory shift hypothesis, increasing E (associated with cyclical increases in fecundability) predicted increases in preferences for relatively more masculine faces; while high P (associated with cyclical decreases in fecundability) predicted increases in preferences for relatively more feminine faces. We also found an interaction between E and preferences for facial masculinity and beardedness, such that stubble was more attractive on un-manipulated than more masculine faces among women with high E. We consider discrepancies between our findings and those of other recent studies and suggest that closer scrutiny of the stimuli used to measure masculinity preferences across studies may help account for the many conflicting findings that have recently appeared regarding cycle phase preference shifts for facial masculinity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barnaby J W Dixson
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Khandis R Blake
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney 2052 NSW, Australia
| | | | - Amany Gooda-Vossos
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney 2052 NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Markus J Rantala
- Turku Brain and Mind Center, Section of Department of Biology, FI-20014, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Robert C Brooks
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney 2052 NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
65
|
Marcinkowska UM, Jasienska G, Prokop P. A Comparison of Masculinity Facial Preference Among Naturally Cycling, Pregnant, Lactating, and Post-Menopausal Women. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2018; 47:1367-1374. [PMID: 29071543 PMCID: PMC5954065 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-017-1093-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Women show cyclical shifts in preferences for physical male traits. Here we investigated how fertility status influences women's facial masculinity preference in men by analyzing a large sample of heterosexual women (N = 3720). Women were regularly either cycling (in both low- and high-conception probability groups), lactating or were currently in a non-fertile state (pregnant or post-menopausal). Analyses simultaneously controlled for women's age and sexual openness. Participants via two alternative forced choice questions judged attractiveness of masculinized and feminized men's faces. After controlling for the effect of age and sociosexuality, regularly cycling and pregnant women showed a stronger preference for masculinity than lactating and post-menopausal women. However, there was no significant difference in masculinity preference between women in the low- and high-conception probability groups. Women's sociosexuality showed a positive, but very weak association with men's facial masculinity preference. We suggest that women's overall, long-term hormonal state (cycling, post-menopausal) is a stronger predictor of preference for sexual dimorphism than changes in hormonal levels through the cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Urszula M Marcinkowska
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-531, Cracow, Poland.
| | - Grazyna Jasienska
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-531, Cracow, Poland
| | - Pavol Prokop
- Faculty of Education, Trnava University, Trnava, Slovakia
- Institute of Zoology, Bratislava, Slovakia
| |
Collapse
|
66
|
Albert G, Pearson M, Arnocky S, Wachowiak M, Nicol J, Murphy DR. Effects of Masculinized and Feminized Male Voices on Men and Women’s Distractibility and Implicit Memory. JOURNAL OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.1027/1614-0001/a000259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Abstract. Men’s lower-pitched voices may serve to attract mates and/or deter same-sex rivals. If this is the case, then both men and women should be more attentive to men’s lower-pitched voices because, attending to this information may contribute to survival or confer a reproductive advantage. The current study measured men and women’s distractibility and implicit memory for sentences spoken by a masculinized (lower-pitched) and feminized (higher-pitched) male voice. Participants completed an irrelevant speech task followed by an implicit memory task to assess their memory for previously presented irrelevant speech. In the irrelevant speech task, distractibility did not differ between men and women. However, men demonstrated greater implicit memory for sentences previously spoken by the masculinized male voice, and women demonstrated greater implicit memory for sentences previously spoken by the feminized male voice. These results suggest men may have an increased sensitivity to dominance cues in other men’s voices. Reasons why men demonstrated greater implicit memory for sentences spoken by a masculinized man’s voice and why women demonstrated a trend toward greater implicit memory for sentences spoken by a feminized man’s voice are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Graham Albert
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Marlena Pearson
- Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Steven Arnocky
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Mark Wachowiak
- Departments of Computer Science and Math, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Nicol
- Department of Psychology, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
| | - Dana R. Murphy
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
67
|
Marcinkowska UM, Kaminski G, Little AC, Jasienska G. Average ovarian hormone levels, rather than daily values and their fluctuations, are related to facial preferences among women. Horm Behav 2018; 102:114-119. [PMID: 29778461 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hormones are of crucial importance for human behavior. Cyclical changes of ovarian hormones throughout women's menstrual cycle are suggested to underlie fluctuation in masculinity preference for both faces and bodies. In this study we tested this hypothesis based on daily measurements of estradiol and progesterone throughout menstrual cycle, and multiple measurements of women's preference towards masculinity of faces and bodies of men. We expected that due to a large variation among daily hormonal levels we would not observe a direct effect of daily hormone levels, but rather that average levels of ovarian hormones throughout the cycle (a reliable marker of a probability of conception) would better predict women's preferences. We found a negative relationship between average progesterone levels and facial masculinity preference, but only among women who were in long-term relationships. There was no relationship between facial masculinity preference and either of the estradiol or progesterone daily levels. Similarly, only average levels of hormones were significantly related to facial symmetry preference. For women who were in relationships estradiol was positively related to symmetry preference, while for single women this relationship was opposite. For body masculinity preference there were no significant relationships with neither averaged nor daily hormonal levels. Taken together, our results further suggest that overall cycle levels of ovarian hormones (averaged for a cycle) are better predictors of facial masculinity and symmetry preference than daily levels assessed during preferences' tests. Importantly, including information about relationship status in the investigations of hormonal bases of preferences is crucial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Urszula M Marcinkowska
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Grzegorzecka st. 20, 31-531 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Gwenael Kaminski
- Cognition, Langues, Langage, Ergonomie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS-UMR 5263, Toulouse 31000, France; Institut Universitaire de France, 103 boulevard Saint-Michel, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Anthony C Little
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, 10 West, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Grazyna Jasienska
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Grzegorzecka st. 20, 31-531 Krakow, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
68
|
Loggie JW, Garner SR, Partridge CG, Dixon B, Knapp R, Neff BD. A test of the effects of androgens on immunity: No relationship between 11-ketotestosterone and immune performance in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 261:1-8. [PMID: 29355535 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The immunosuppressive effects of androgens are a key component of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH). Here, we use bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) to test two predictions arising from this hypothesis: (1) natural circulating concentrations of the androgen 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) will be negatively related with measures of immunity, and (2) immune stimulation will lower circulating 11-KT concentration. We found no evidence for a relationship between natural circulating 11-KT concentration and measures of immunity (lymphocyte and granulocyte counts, respiratory burst, cytokine mRNA levels), and an immune stimulation with Vibrio vaccine did not affect circulating 11-KT concentration. We also performed a meta-analysis of immune stimulation studies to help interpret our results, and report evidence suggesting that immune stimulation has weaker effects on androgen levels in fishes compared to other vertebrates. These results suggest that the ICHH may not apply to all vertebrates, although it remains premature to state what factors account for the weaker evidence in fishes that androgens are immunosuppressive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John W Loggie
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Shawn R Garner
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Charlyn G Partridge
- Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, 740 W. Shoreline Dr., Muskegon, MI 49441, USA
| | - Brian Dixon
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Rosemary Knapp
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Bryan D Neff
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
69
|
O'Connor JJM, Barclay P. High voice pitch mitigates the aversiveness of antisocial cues in men's speech. Br J Psychol 2018; 109:812-829. [PMID: 29745423 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Speech contains both explicit social information in semantic content and implicit cues to social behaviour and mate quality in voice pitch. Voice pitch has been demonstrated to have pervasive effects on social perceptions, but few studies have examined these perceptions in the context of meaningful speech. Here, we examined whether male voice pitch interacted with socially relevant cues in speech to influence listeners' perceptions of trustworthiness and attractiveness. We artificially manipulated men's voices to be higher and lower in pitch when speaking words that were either prosocial or antisocial in nature. In Study 1, we found that listeners perceived lower-pitched voices as more trustworthy and attractive in the context of prosocial words than in the context of antisocial words. In Study 2, we found evidence that suggests this effect was driven by stronger preferences for higher-pitched voices in the context of antisocial cues, as voice pitch preferences were not significantly different in the context of prosocial cues. These findings suggest that higher male voice pitch may ameliorate the negative effects of antisocial speech content and that listeners may be particularly avoidant of those who express multiple cues to antisociality across modalities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Pat Barclay
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
70
|
Nowak J, Pawłowski B, Borkowska B, Augustyniak D, Drulis-Kawa Z. No evidence for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis in male humans. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7392. [PMID: 29743556 PMCID: PMC5943526 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25694-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The observations that testosterone might be immunosuppressive, form the basis for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH). According to ICHH only high-quality individuals can maintain high levels of testosterone and afford the physiological cost of hormone-derived immunosuppression. The animal and human studies that attempted to support the ICHH by precisely defined impairment of immunity associated with high testosterone levels are inconclusive. Furthermore, human studies have used only selected immune functions and varying testosterone fractions. This is the first study examining the relationship between multiple innate and adaptive immunity and serum levels of free testosterone, total testosterone, DHT and DHEA in ninety-seven healthy men. Free testosterone and marginally DHT levels were positively correlated with the strength of the influenza post-vaccination response. Total testosterone and DHEA showed no immunomodulatory properties. Our findings did not support ICHH assumptions about immunosuppressive function of androgens. In the affluent society studied here, men with higher levels of free testosterone could afford to invest more in adaptive immunity. Since the hormone-immune relationship is complex and may depend on multiple factors, including access to food resources, androgens should be treated as immunomodulators rather than implicit immunosuppressants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judyta Nowak
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wroclaw, Kuźnicza 35, 50-138, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Bogusław Pawłowski
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wroclaw, Kuźnicza 35, 50-138, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Barbara Borkowska
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wroclaw, Kuźnicza 35, 50-138, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Daria Augustyniak
- Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wrocław, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
71
|
Filipino Women’s Preferences for Male Voice Pitch: Intra-Individual, Life History, and Hormonal Predictors. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-018-0087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
72
|
Dixson BJW, Lee AJ, Blake KR, Jasienska G, Marcinkowska UM. Women's preferences for men's beards show no relation to their ovarian cycle phase and sex hormone levels. Horm Behav 2018; 97:137-144. [PMID: 29129624 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
According to the ovulatory shift hypothesis, women's mate preferences for male morphology indicative of competitive ability, social dominance, and/or underlying health are strongest at the peri-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle. However, recent meta-analyses are divided on the robustness of such effects and the validity of the often-used indirect estimates of fertility and ovulation has been called into question in methodological studies. In the current study, we test whether women's preferences for men's beardedness, a cue of male sexual maturity, androgenic development and social dominance, are stronger at the peri-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle compared to during the early follicular or the luteal phase. We also tested whether levels of estradiol, progesterone, and the estradiol to progesterone ratio at each phase were associated with facial hair preferences. Fifty-two heterosexual women completed a two-alternative forced choice preference test for clean-shaven and bearded male faces during the follicular, peri-ovulatory (validated by the surge in luteinizing hormone or the drop in estradiol levels) and luteal phases. Participants also provided for one entire menstrual cycle daily saliva samples for subsequent assaying of estradiol and progesterone. Results showed an overall preference for bearded over clean-shaven faces at each phase of the menstrual cycle. However, preferences for facial hair were not significantly different over the phases of menstrual cycle and were not significantly associated with levels of reproductive hormones. We conclude that women's preferences for men's beardedness may not be related to changes in their likelihood of conception.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barnaby J W Dixson
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Anthony J Lee
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Khandis R Blake
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, Australia
| | - Grazyna Jasienska
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Urszula M Marcinkowska
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
73
|
Borras-Guevara ML, Batres C, Perrett DI. Domestic violence shapes Colombian women's partner choices. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017; 71:175. [PMID: 29200603 PMCID: PMC5694761 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2405-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Potential protection from violence has been suggested as an explanation for women’s preferences for more masculine partners. Previous studies, however, have not considered that violence may be multi-modal, and hence come from different sources. Therefore, we tested the effect of different fears of violence (i.e. vulnerability to public crime, likelihood of within-partnership violence) on masculinity preferences of women from Colombia, a country known for its high rates of violence. Eighty-three adult heterosexual women (mean age ± SD = 26.7 ± 6.01) answered a survey that included questions about health (e.g. frequency of illnesses during the last year and during childhood), access to media (e.g. time spent watching television, frequency of internet use), education (i.e. highest level achieved) and violence perceptions. Participants’ masculinity preferences for Salvadoran, European and Colombian male faces were recorded. Factor analysis revealed two different factors for the answers to questions related to violence. One factor loaded mostly on questions related to public violence and the second factor related to domestic violence. We found that women with higher scores on the domestic violence factor preferred significantly less masculine Colombian male faces. Even after controlling for participant age, education, access to media (TV and internet) and health-related factors, the domestic violence factor contributed significantly to explaining masculinity preferences. The results presented here suggest that women’s preferences for masculinity may be a strategy to avoid aggressive partners and that the source of violence matters in mate choice. Significance statement Women who perceive higher risks of domestic violence prefer less masculine looking partners. Using an experimental approach, we show that Colombian women who feel more in danger of violence within partnership prefer the faces of less masculine males. This was true even after controlling for women’s education level, health and access to media. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00265-017-2405-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martha Lucia Borras-Guevara
- Perception Lab, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, St Mary's Quad, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland KY16 9JP UK
| | - Carlota Batres
- Present Address: Psychology Department, Gettysburg College, 300 North Washington Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 USA
| | - David I Perrett
- Perception Lab, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, St Mary's Quad, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland KY16 9JP UK
| |
Collapse
|
74
|
Hagerman S, Woolard Z, Anderson K, Tatler BW, Moore FR. Women's self-rated attraction to male faces does not correspond with physiological arousal. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13564. [PMID: 29051563 PMCID: PMC5648837 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13812-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been little work to determine whether attractiveness ratings of faces correspond to sexual or more general attraction. We tested whether a measure of women’s physiological arousal (pupil diameter change) was correlated with ratings of men’s facial attractiveness. In Study 1, women rated the faces of men for whom we also measured salivary testosterone. They rated each face for attractiveness, and for desirability for friendship and long- and short-term romantic relationships. Pupil diameter change was not related to subjective ratings of attractiveness, but was positively correlated with the men’s testosterone. In Study 2 we compared women’s pupil diameter change in response to the faces of men with high versus low testosterone, as well as in response to non-facial images pre-rated as either sexually arousing or threatening. Pupil dilation was not affected by testosterone, and increased relatively more in response to sexually arousing than threatening images. We conclude that self-rated preferences may not provide a straightforward and direct assessment of sexual attraction. We argue that future work should identify the constructs that are tapped via attractiveness ratings of faces, and support the development of methodology which assesses objective sexual attraction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Hagerman
- School of Social Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Z Woolard
- School of Social Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - K Anderson
- School of Social Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - B W Tatler
- School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - F R Moore
- School of Social Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
75
|
Smith KM, Olkhov YM, Puts DA, Apicella CL. Hadza Men With Lower Voice Pitch Have a Better Hunting Reputation. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2017; 15:1474704917740466. [PMID: 29179581 PMCID: PMC10481060 DOI: 10.1177/1474704917740466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research with hunter-gatherers has found that women perceive men with voices manipulated to be lower in pitch to be better hunters, and men perceive women with lower pitch to be better gatherers. Here, we test if actual voice pitch is associated with hunting and gathering reputations in men and women, respectively. We find that voice pitch does relate to foraging reputation in men, but not in women, with better hunters having a lower voice pitch. In addition, we find that the previously documented relationship between voice pitch and reproductive success no longer holds when controlling for hunting reputation, but hunting reputation remains a significant predictor of reproductive success when controlling for voice pitch. This raises the possibility that voice pitch is being selected for in hunter-gatherers because of the relationship between voice pitch and hunting reputation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David A. Puts
- Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
76
|
Rogovin KA, Khrushchova AM, Shekarova ON, Vasilieva NA, Vasilieva NY. Females choose gentle, but not healthy or macho males in Campbell dwarf hamsters ( Phodopus campbelli Thomas 1905). Curr Zool 2017; 63:545-554. [PMID: 29492014 PMCID: PMC5804195 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zow090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgen-dependent male sexual traits (STs) as well as immunocompetence are theoretically assumed to be key indicators of a male's quality for the mate-choosing female. We studied mate choice by sexually motivated (SM) females of Campbell's dwarf hamsters. Females chose between 2 tethered male siblings that differed in expression of STs. Males were unrelated to the female and able to contact and copulate with her. In both males, we measured sex-related morphology of body mass, mid-ventral specific skin gland, ano-genital distance, and external testicular diameter. We also estimated levels of blood testosterone and cortisol, specific T- and B-cell immune responses to antigens, as well as aggressive and sexual dominance in sibling males through additional encounter experiments with another SM female (male sibs could freely compete for the female). We found that SM females chose a partner among 2 male sibs and spent over 80% of their time on average with the preferred male compared with the non-preferred one. Her choice was not associated with the first visit of the chosen male, with a higher expression of sex-related traits, higher levels of blood testosterone, or with aggressive dominance. The choice was not associated with the intensity of T-cell immune response to phitohemagglutinin (PHA). Instead there was a tendency for a negative relationship with the expression of STs and B-cell response to the antigen challenge. The only character that unambiguously influenced female choice was the non-aggressive male to female grooming during sexual contact. There was no difference in breeding success between preferred and non-preferred males paired with virgin females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin A. Rogovin
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, Leninskii prospect 33, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Anastasiya M. Khrushchova
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, Leninskii prospect 33, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Olga N. Shekarova
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, Leninskii prospect 33, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Nina A. Vasilieva
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, Leninskii prospect 33, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Nina Yu Vasilieva
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, Leninskii prospect 33, Moscow 119071, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
77
|
Zilioli S, Bird BM. Functional significance of men's testosterone reactivity to social stimuli. Front Neuroendocrinol 2017; 47:1-18. [PMID: 28676436 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Rapid testosterone fluctuations in response to social stimuli are observed across a wide range of species, and the highly conserved nature of these fluctuations suggests an adaptive function. This paper reviews the current literature on testosterone reactivity, primarily in human males, and illustrates how life-history theory provides an adequate theoretical framework to interpret findings. The review is structured around supporting evidence suggesting that situations implicated in mating effort either directly (e.g., interactions with a mate) or indirectly (e.g., intrasexual competition) are generally associated with a brief elevation of testosterone, while situations implicated in parenting effort (e.g., nurturant interactions with offspring) are generally associated with a decline in testosterone. Further, we discuss how these fluctuations in testosterone have been linked to future behaviors, and how situational, motivational, and physiological variables moderate the interplay between social stimuli, testosterone reactivity, and behavior. Supporting the notion that testosterone can play a causal role in modulating behavior in response to social stimuli, we also summarize recent single administration studies examining the effects of testosterone on physiology, neurobiology, and behavior. A conceptual model provides links between supported findings, and hypothesized pathways requiring future testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuele Zilioli
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
| | - Brian M Bird
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
78
|
Holzleitner IJ, Perrett DI. Women’s Preferences for Men’s Facial Masculinity: Trade-Off Accounts Revisited. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-017-0070-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
79
|
Phalane KG, Tribe C, Steel HC, Cholo MC, Coetzee V. Facial appearance reveals immunity in African men. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7443. [PMID: 28785075 PMCID: PMC5547115 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08015-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Facial appearance is thought to indicate immunity in humans, but very few studies have tested this relationship directly. The aim of this study was to test the relationship between direct measures of immunity, perceived facial health and attractiveness, and facial cues in African men. We show that men with a stronger cytokine response are considered significantly more attractive and healthy. Men with more masculine, heavier facial features (i.e. muscular appearance) have a significantly higher cytokine response and appear significantly healthier and more attractive, while men with a yellower, lighter, "carotenoid" skin colour, have a marginally higher immune response and are also considered significantly more healthy and attractive. In contrast, more symmetrical, skinnier looking men appeared more attractive and healthier, but did not have a stronger cytokine response. These findings also shed new light on the "androgen-mediated" traits proposed by the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) and we propose that facial muscularity serves as a better estimate of an "androgen-mediated" trait than facial masculinity. Finally, we build on previous evidence to show that men's facial features do indeed reveal aspects of immunity, even better than more traditional measures of health, such as body mass index (BMI).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khutso G Phalane
- Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Catherine Tribe
- Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Helen C Steel
- Department of Immunology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Moloko C Cholo
- Department of Immunology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Vinet Coetzee
- Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
80
|
McIntosh TL, Lee AJ, Sidari MJ, Stower RE, Sherlock JM, Dixson BJW. Microbes and masculinity: Does exposure to pathogenic cues alter women's preferences for male facial masculinity and beardedness? PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178206. [PMID: 28594843 PMCID: PMC5464545 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Women's preferences for men's androgen dependent secondary sexual traits are proposed to be phenotypically plastic in response to exposure to pathogens and pathogen disgust. While previous studies report that masculinity in facial shape is more attractive to women who have recently been exposed to pathogenic cues and who are high in self-reported pathogen disgust, facial hair may reduce male attractiveness under conditions of high pathogens as beards are a possible breeding ground for disease carrying ectoparasites. In the present study, we test whether women's preferences for beardedness and facial masculinity vary due to exposure to different pathogenic cues. Participants (N = 688, mean age + 1SD = 31.94 years, SD = 6.69, range = 18-67) rated the attractiveness of facial composite stimuli of men when they were clean-shaven or fully bearded. These stimuli were also manipulated in order to vary sexual dimorphism by ±50%. Ratings were conducted before and after exposure to one of four experimental treatments in which participants were primed to either high pathogens (e.g. infected cuts), ectoparasites (e.g. body lice), a mixture of pathogens and ectoparasites, or a control condition (e.g. innocuous liquids). Participants then completed the three-domain disgust scale measuring attitudes to moral, sexual and pathogen disgust. We predicted that women would prefer facial masculinity following exposure to pathogenic cues, but would show reduced preferences for facial hair following exposure to ectoparasites. Women preferred full beards over clean-shaven faces and masculinised over feminised faces. However, none of the experimental treatments influenced the direction of preferences for facial masculinity or beardedness. We also found no association between women's self-reported pathogen disgust and their preferences for facial masculinity. However, there was a weak positive association between moral disgust scores and preferences for facial masculinity, which might reflect conservatism and preferences for gender typicality in faces. Women's preferences for beards were positively associated with their pathogen disgust, which runs contrary to our predictions and may reflect preferences for high quality individuals who can withstand any costs of beardedness, although further replications are necessary before firm conclusions can be made. We conclude that there is little support for pathogenic exposure being a mechanism that underpins women's directional preferences for masculine traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Toneya L. McIntosh
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anthony J. Lee
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Morgan J. Sidari
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rebecca E. Stower
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - James M. Sherlock
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | |
Collapse
|
81
|
Kandrik M, Hahn AC, Han C, Wincenciak J, Fisher CI, DeBruine LM, Jones BC. Does the Interaction Between Cortisol and Testosterone Predict Men's Facial Attractiveness? ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 3:275-281. [PMID: 32010551 PMCID: PMC6959412 DOI: 10.1007/s40750-017-0064-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Although some researchers have suggested that the interaction between cortisol and testosterone predicts ratings of men’s facial attractiveness, evidence for this pattern of results is equivocal. Consequently, the current study tested for a correlation between men’s facial attractiveness and the interaction between their cortisol and testosterone levels. We also tested for corresponding relationships between the interaction between cortisol and testosterone and ratings of men’s facial health and dominance (perceived traits that are correlated with facial attractiveness in men). We found no evidence that ratings of either facial attractiveness or health were correlated with the interaction between cortisol and testosterone. Some analyses suggested that the interaction between cortisol and testosterone levels may predict ratings of men’s facial dominance, however, with testosterone being more closely related to facial dominance ratings among men with higher cortisol. Our results suggest that the relationship between men’s facial attractiveness and the interaction between cortisol and testosterone is not robust.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michal Kandrik
- 1Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB UK
| | - Amanda C Hahn
- 1Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB UK.,2Present Address: Department of Psychology, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA USA
| | - Chengyang Han
- 1Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB UK
| | - Joanna Wincenciak
- 1Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB UK.,3Present Address: Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Claire I Fisher
- 1Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB UK
| | - Lisa M DeBruine
- 1Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB UK
| | - Benedict C Jones
- 1Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB UK
| |
Collapse
|
82
|
Watkins CD, Nicholls MJ, Batres C, Xiao D, Talamas S, Perrett DI. Own attractiveness and perceived relationship quality shape sensitivity in women's memory for other men on the attractiveness dimension. Cognition 2017; 163:146-154. [PMID: 28342383 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Although recent work suggests that opposite-sex facial attractiveness is less salient in memory when individuals are in a committed romantic relationship, romantic relationship quality can vary over time. In light of this, we tested whether activating concerns about romantic relationship quality strengthens memory for attractive faces. Partnered women were exposed briefly to faces manipulated in shape cues to attractiveness before either being asked to think about a moment of emotional closeness or distance in their current relationship. We measured sensitivity in memory for faces as the extent to which they recognized correct versions of studied faces over versions of the same person altered to look either more or less-attractive than their original (i.e., studied) version. Contrary to predictions, high relationship quality strengthened hit rate for faces regardless of the sex or attractiveness of the face. In general, women's memories were more sensitive to attractiveness in women, but were biased toward attractiveness in male faces, both when responding to unfamiliar faces and versions of familiar faces that were more attractive than the original male identity from the learning phase. However, findings varied according to self-rated attractiveness and a psychometric measure of the quality of their current relationship. Attractive women were more sensitive to attractiveness in men, while their less-attractive peers had a stronger bias to remember women as more-attractive and men as less-attractive than their original image respectively. Women in better-quality romantic relationships had stronger positive biases toward, and false memories for, attractive men. Our findings suggest a sophisticated pattern of sensitivity and bias in women's memory for facial cues to quality that varies systematically according to factors that may alter the costs of female mating competition ('market demand') and relationship maintenance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Watkins
- Division of Psychology, School of Social and Health Sciences, Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland DD1 1HG, United Kingdom.
| | - Mike J Nicholls
- Division of Psychology, School of Social and Health Sciences, Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland DD1 1HG, United Kingdom
| | - Carlota Batres
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JP, United Kingdom
| | - Dengke Xiao
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JP, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Talamas
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JP, United Kingdom
| | - David I Perrett
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JP, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
83
|
Lorenz TK, Heiman JR, Demas GE. Testosterone and immune-reproductive tradeoffs in healthy women. Horm Behav 2017; 88:122-130. [PMID: 27865788 PMCID: PMC5303633 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Although testosterone (T) has been characterized as universally immunosuppressive across species and sexes, recent ecoimmunology research suggests that T's immunomodulatory effects (enhancing/suppressing) depend on the organism's reproductive context. Very little is known about the immune effects of T in healthy females, and even less about how reproductive effort modulates the immune effects of T in humans. We investigated how the interaction between endogenous T and sexual activity predicted menstrual cycle-related changes in several measures of immunity: inflammation (indexed by interleukin-6, IL-6), adaptive immunity (indexed by immunoglobulin A, IgA), and functional immunity (indexed by bactericidal assay). Thirty-two healthy women (sexually abstinent, N=17; sexually active with one male partner, N=15) provided saliva samples at four points in the menstrual cycle: menses, follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases. Among sexually abstinent women, T was positively associated with IL-6 across the cycle; for sexually active women, however, T was positively associated with IL-6 in the luteal phase only, and negatively associated with IL-6 at ovulation. High T predicted higher IgA among women who reported infrequent intercourse, but lower IgA among women who reported very frequent intercourse. Finally, across groups, T was positively associated with greater bacterial killing at menses, but negatively associated in the luteal phase. Overall, rather than being universally immunosuppressive, T appeared to signal immunomodulation relevant to reproduction (e.g., lowering inflammation at ovulation, potentially preventing immune interference with conception). Our findings support the hypothesis that the immunomodulatory effects of endogenous T in healthy females depend on sexual and reproductive context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tierney K Lorenz
- Center for Integrative Study for Animal Behavior, Indiana University, 409 N. Park Ave, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States; The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, 1165 E 3rd St., Bloomington, IN 47405, United States; Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223, United States.
| | - Julia R Heiman
- Center for Integrative Study for Animal Behavior, Indiana University, 409 N. Park Ave, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States; The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, 1165 E 3rd St., Bloomington, IN 47405, United States; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th St., Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
| | - Gregory E Demas
- Center for Integrative Study for Animal Behavior, Indiana University, 409 N. Park Ave, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States; Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E 3rd St., Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
84
|
Tronson NC, Collette KM. (Putative) sex differences in neuroimmune modulation of memory. J Neurosci Res 2017; 95:472-486. [PMID: 27870428 PMCID: PMC5120654 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The neuroimmune system is significantly sexually dimorphic, with sex differences evident in the number and activation states of microglia, in the activation of astrocytes, and in cytokine release and function. Neuroimmune cells and signaling are now recognized as critical for many neural functions throughout the life span, including synaptic plasticity and memory function. Here we address the question of how cytokines, astrocytes, and microglia contribute to memory, and specifically how neuroimmune modulation of memory differentially affects males and females. Understanding sex differences in both normal memory processes and dysregulation of memory in psychiatric and neurological disorders is critical for developing treatment and preventive strategies for memory disorders that are effective for both men and women. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie C Tronson
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Katie M Collette
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| |
Collapse
|
85
|
Kandrik M, Hahn AC, Fisher CI, Wincenciak J, DeBruine LM, Jones BC. Are physiological and behavioral immune responses negatively correlated? Evidence from hormone-linked differences in men's face preferences. Horm Behav 2017; 87:57-61. [PMID: 27810343 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Behaviors that minimize exposure to sources of pathogens can carry opportunity costs. Consequently, how individuals resolve the tradeoff between the benefits and costs of behavioral immune responses should be sensitive to the extent to which they are vulnerable to infectious diseases. However, although it is a strong prediction of this functional flexibility principle, there is little compelling evidence that individuals with stronger physiological immune responses show weaker behavioral immune responses. Here we show that men with the combination of high testosterone and low cortisol levels, a hormonal profile recently found to be associated with particularly strong physiological immune responses, show weaker preferences for color cues associated with carotenoid pigmentation. Since carotenoid cues are thought to index vulnerability to infectious illnesses, our results are consistent with the functional flexibility principle's prediction that individuals with stronger physiological immune responses show weaker behavioral immune responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michal Kandrik
- Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB, UK.
| | - Amanda C Hahn
- Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB, UK
| | - Claire I Fisher
- Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB, UK
| | - Joanna Wincenciak
- Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB, UK
| | - Lisa M DeBruine
- Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB, UK
| | - Benedict C Jones
- Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
86
|
Young SG, Thorstenson CA, Pazda AD. Facial redness, expression, and masculinity influence perceptions of anger and health. Cogn Emot 2016; 32:49-60. [PMID: 28033739 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2016.1273201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Past research has found that skin colouration, particularly facial redness, influences the perceived health and emotional state of target individuals. In the current work, we explore several extensions of this past research. In Experiment 1, we manipulated facial redness incrementally on neutral and angry faces and had participants rate each face for anger and health. Different red effects emerged, as perceived anger increased in a linear manner as facial redness increased. Health ratings instead showed a curvilinear trend, as both extreme paleness and redness were rated as less healthy than moderate levels of red. Experiment 2 replicated and extended these findings by manipulating the masculinity of both angry and neutral faces that varied in redness. The results found the effect of red on perceived anger and health was moderated by masculine face structure. Collectively, these results show that facial redness has context dependent effects that vary based on facial expression, appearance, and differentially impact ratings of emotional states and health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven G Young
- a Baruch College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York , New York , NY , USA
| | - Christopher A Thorstenson
- b The Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology , University of Rochester , Rochester , NY , USA.,c Rochester Institute of Technology , Rochester , NY , USA
| | - Adam D Pazda
- d Department of Psychology , University of South Carolina - Aiken , Aiken , SC , USA
| |
Collapse
|
87
|
Hierarchy stability moderates the effect of status on stress and performance in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 114:78-83. [PMID: 27994160 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1609811114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
High social status reduces stress responses in numerous species, but the stress-buffering effect of status may dissipate or even reverse during times of hierarchical instability. In an experimental test of this hypothesis, 118 participants (57.3% female) were randomly assigned to a high- or low-status position in a stable or unstable hierarchy and were then exposed to a social-evaluative stressor (a mock job interview). High status in a stable hierarchy buffered stress responses and improved interview performance, but high status in an unstable hierarchy boosted stress responses and did not lead to better performance. This general pattern of effects was observed across endocrine (cortisol and testosterone), psychological (feeling in control), and behavioral (competence, dominance, and warmth) responses to the stressor. The joint influence of status and hierarchy stability on interview performance was explained by feelings of control and testosterone reactivity. Greater feelings of control predicted enhanced interview performance, whereas increased testosterone reactivity predicted worse performance. These results provide direct causal evidence that high status confers adaptive benefits for stress reduction and performance only when the social hierarchy is stable. When the hierarchy is unstable, high status actually exacerbates stress responses.
Collapse
|
88
|
Winternitz J, Abbate JL, Huchard E, Havlíček J, Garamszegi LZ. Patterns of MHC-dependent mate selection in humans and nonhuman primates: a meta-analysis. Mol Ecol 2016; 26:668-688. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Winternitz
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology; August-Thienemann-Strasse 2 24306 Ploen Germany
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology; Czech Academy of Sciences; v.v.i. Květná 8 603 65 Brno Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany; Czech Academy of Sciences; v.v.i. Lidická 25/27 657 20 Brno Czech Republic
| | - J. L. Abbate
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution; University of Bern; Balterstrasse 6 3006 Bern Switzerland
- INRA - UMR 1062 CBGP (INRA; IRD; CIRAD; Montpellier SupAgro); 755 Avenue du campus Agropolis 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez France
| | - E. Huchard
- CEFE UMR5175; CNRS - Université de Montpellier - EPHE; 1919 Route de Mende 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5 France
| | - J. Havlíček
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Viničná 7 128 44 Prague 2 Czech Republic
| | - L. Z. Garamszegi
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology; Estación Biológica de Doñana-CSIC; c/Americo Vespucio s/n 41092 Seville Spain
| |
Collapse
|
89
|
Trumble BC, Blackwell AD, Stieglitz J, Thompson ME, Suarez IM, Kaplan H, Gurven M. Associations between male testosterone and immune function in a pathogenically stressed forager-horticultural population. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2016; 161:494-505. [PMID: 27465811 PMCID: PMC5075254 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite well-known fitness advantages to males who produce and maintain high endogenous testosterone levels, such phenotypes may be costly if testosterone-mediated investment in reproductive effort trade-off against investment in somatic maintenance. Previous studies of androgen-mediated trade-offs in human immune function find mixed results, in part because most studies either focus on a few indicators of immunity, are confounded by phenotypic correlation, or are observational. Here the association between male endogenous testosterone and 13 circulating cytokines are examined before and after ex vivo antigen stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in a high pathogen population of Bolivian forager-horticulturalists. MATERIALS AND METHODS A Milliplex 13-plex cytokine panel measured cytokine concentration in whole blood samples from 109 Tsimane men aged 40-89 (median = 50 years) before and after antigen stimulation with PHA and LPS. Urinary testosterone was measured via enzyme immunoassay, demographic, and anthropometric data were collected as part of the Tsimane Health and Life History Project. RESULTS Higher endogenous testosterone was associated with down-regulated responses in all cytokines after PHA stimulation (but significantly in only 2/13 cytokines), controlling for age and body mass index. In contrast, testosterone was not significantly associated with down-regulation of cytokines after LPS stimulation. MANOVAs indicate that men with higher testosterone showed reduced cytokine responses to PHA compared with LPS (p = 0.0098). DISCUSSION Endogenous testosterone appears to be immunomodulatory rather than immunosuppressive. Potentially costlier forms of immune activation like those induced by PHA (largely T-cell biased immune activation) are down-regulated in men with higher testosterone, but testosterone has less impact on potentially less costly immune activation following LPS stimulation (largely B-cell mediated immunity).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin C Trumble
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA.
- Tsimane Health and Life History Project, San Borja, Bolivia.
| | - Aaron D Blackwell
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
- Tsimane Health and Life History Project, San Borja, Bolivia
| | - Jonathan Stieglitz
- Tsimane Health and Life History Project, San Borja, Bolivia
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
- Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Hillard Kaplan
- Tsimane Health and Life History Project, San Borja, Bolivia
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Michael Gurven
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
- Tsimane Health and Life History Project, San Borja, Bolivia
| |
Collapse
|
90
|
Fleischman DS. An evolutionary behaviorist perspective on orgasm. SOCIOAFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE & PSYCHOLOGY 2016; 6:32130. [PMID: 27799083 PMCID: PMC5087694 DOI: 10.3402/snp.v6.32130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Revised: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary explanations for sexual behavior and orgasm most often posit facilitating reproduction as the primary function (i.e. greater rate of fertilization). Other reproductive benefits of sexual pleasure and orgasm such as improved bonding of parents have also been discussed but not thoroughly. Although sex is known to be highly reinforcing, behaviorist principles are rarely invoked alongside evolutionary psychology in order to account for human sexual and social behavior. In this paper, I will argue that intense sexual pleasure, especially orgasm, can be understood as a primary reinforcer shaped by evolution to reinforce behavior that facilitates reproductive success (i.e. conception through copulation). Next, I will describe an evolutionary account of social shaping. In particular, I will focus on how humans evolved to use orgasm and sexual arousal to shape the social behavior and emotional states of others through both classical and operant conditioning and through both reproductive and non-reproductive forms of sexual behavior. Finally, I will describe how orgasm is a signal of sensitivity to reinforcement that is itself reinforcing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana S Fleischman
- Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom;
| |
Collapse
|
91
|
Imprinting and flexibility in human face cognition. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33545. [PMID: 27680495 PMCID: PMC5062761 DOI: 10.1038/srep33545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Faces are an important cue to multiple physiological and psychological traits. Human preferences for exaggerated sex typicality (masculinity or femininity) in faces depend on multiple factors and show high inter-subject variability. To gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying facial femininity preferences in men, we tested the interactive effect of family structure (birth order, sibling sex-ratio and number of siblings) and parenthood status on these preferences. Based on a group of 1304 heterosexual men, we have found that preference for feminine faces was not only influenced by sibling age and sex, but also that fatherhood modulated this preference. Men with sisters had a weaker preference for femininity than men with brothers, highlighting a possible effect of a negative imprinting-like mechanism. What is more, fatherhood increased strongly the preference for facial femininity. Finally, for fathers with younger sisters only, the more the age difference increased between them, the more femininity preference increased. Overall our findings bring new insight into how early-acquired experience at the individual level may determine face preference in adulthood, and what is more, how these preferences are flexible and potentially dependent on parenthood status in adult men.
Collapse
|
92
|
Koch RE, Josefson CC, Hill GE. Mitochondrial function, ornamentation, and immunocompetence. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 92:1459-1474. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Revised: 06/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E. Koch
- Department of Biological Sciences; Auburn University; Auburn AL 36849 U.S.A
| | - Chloe C. Josefson
- Department of Biological Sciences; Auburn University; Auburn AL 36849 U.S.A
| | - Geoffrey E. Hill
- Department of Biological Sciences; Auburn University; Auburn AL 36849 U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
93
|
Lyons M, Blanchard A. “I could see, in the depth of his eyes, my own beauty reflected”: Women's assortative preference for narcissistic, but not for Machiavellian or psychopathic male faces. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
94
|
Marcinkowska UM, Lyons MT, Helle S. Women's reproductive success and the preference for Dark Triad in men's faces. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2016.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
95
|
Danel DP, Dziedzic-Danel A, Kleisner K. Does age difference really matter? Facial markers of biological quality and age difference between husband and wife. HOMO-JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE HUMAN BIOLOGY 2016; 67:337-47. [PMID: 27238548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchb.2016.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Information conveyed by facial attractiveness markers such as averageness, bilateral symmetry, and secondary sexual characteristics may play an important adaptive role in human sexual selection. Nonetheless, mate choice also relies on other non-physical characteristics such as, for instance, an individual's age. Women prefer and enter in relationships with older partners, whereas in men the inverse relation is observed. Surprisingly, the link between facial morphological markers of biological quality on the one hand and age disparity between partners on the other hand has been as yet subject of very little research. This study aims to fill this gap. We had used facial photographs and demographic data of heterosexual marriages. Facial cues of biological quality, such as averageness, bilateral symmetry, and sexual dimorphism, were digitally measured using geometric morphometric methods and then associated with spouses' age difference. It turned out that a greater age disparity between spouses correlates, in both partners, with higher scores in facial measures which indicate partners' biological quality. One exception is female facial masculinity - generally regarded as an unattractive marker of a low biological quality - which, too, is associated with higher spouse age disparity. In general, our results show that facial symmetry, averageness, and secondary sexual characteristics may play a role in age-dependent mate choice. We suggest that in marriages where the wife is considerably younger than the husband, wife's greater facial masculinity may increase her perceived age and with it, her perceived maturity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D P Danel
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Anthropology Unit in Wroclaw, Podwale 75, 50-449 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - A Dziedzic-Danel
- Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Weigla 5, 50-981 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - K Kleisner
- Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 128 44 Praha 2, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
96
|
Dixson BJW, Rantala MJ. The Role of Facial and Body Hair Distribution in Women's Judgments of Men's Sexual Attractiveness. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2016; 45:877-89. [PMID: 26292838 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-015-0588-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Facial and body hair are some of the most visually conspicuous and sexually dimorphic of all men's secondary sexual traits. Both are androgen dependent, requiring the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone via the enzyme 5α reductase 2 for their expression. While previous studies on the attractiveness of facial and body hair are equivocal, none have accounted as to how natural variation in their distribution may influence male sexual attractiveness. In the present study, we quantified men's facial and body hair distribution as either very light, light, medium, or heavy using natural photographs. We also tested whether women's fertility influenced their preferences for beards and body hair by comparing preferences among heterosexual women grouped according their fertility (high fertility, low fertility, and contraceptive use). Results showed that men with more evenly and continuously distributed facial hair from the lower jaw connecting to the mustache and covering the cheeks were judged as more sexually attractive than individuals with more patchy facial hair. Men with body hair were less attractive than when clean shaven, with the exception of images depicting some hair around the areolae, pectoral region, and the sternum that were significantly more attractive than clean-shaven bodies. However, there was no effect of fertility on women's preferences for men's beard or body hair distribution. These results suggest that the distribution of facial and body hair influences male attractiveness to women, possibly as an indication of masculine development and the synthesis of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone via 5α reductase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barnaby J W Dixson
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Markus J Rantala
- Turku Brain and Mind Center, Section of Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
97
|
Puts DA, Hill AK, Bailey DH, Walker RS, Rendall D, Wheatley JR, Welling LLM, Dawood K, Cárdenas R, Burriss RP, Jablonski NG, Shriver MD, Weiss D, Lameira AR, Apicella CL, Owren MJ, Barelli C, Glenn ME, Ramos-Fernandez G. Sexual selection on male vocal fundamental frequency in humans and other anthropoids. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 283:20152830. [PMID: 27122553 PMCID: PMC4855375 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In many primates, including humans, the vocalizations of males and females differ dramatically, with male vocalizations and vocal anatomy often seeming to exaggerate apparent body size. These traits may be favoured by sexual selection because low-frequency male vocalizations intimidate rivals and/or attract females, but this hypothesis has not been systematically tested across primates, nor is it clear why competitors and potential mates should attend to vocalization frequencies. Here we show across anthropoids that sexual dimorphism in fundamental frequency (F0) increased during evolutionary transitions towards polygyny, and decreased during transitions towards monogamy. Surprisingly, humans exhibit greater F0 sexual dimorphism than any other ape. We also show that low-F0 vocalizations predict perceptions of men's dominance and attractiveness, and predict hormone profiles (low cortisol and high testosterone) related to immune function. These results suggest that low male F0 signals condition to competitors and mates, and evolved in male anthropoids in response to the intensity of mating competition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David A Puts
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Alexander K Hill
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Drew H Bailey
- School of Education, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Robert S Walker
- Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Drew Rendall
- Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1 K 3M4
| | - John R Wheatley
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Lisa L M Welling
- Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, USA
| | - Khytam Dawood
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Rodrigo Cárdenas
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Robert P Burriss
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Nina G Jablonski
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Mark D Shriver
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Daniel Weiss
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Adriano R Lameira
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK Pongo Foundation, Papenhoeflaan 91, Oudewater 3421XN, The Netherlands
| | - Coren L Apicella
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael J Owren
- OSV Acoustical Associates and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Claudia Barelli
- Sezione di Biodiversità Tropicale, Museo delle Scienze, Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Mary E Glenn
- Department of Anthropology, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521, USA
| | - Gabriel Ramos-Fernandez
- CIIDIR Unidad Oaxaca, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico and C3-Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Mexico 04510, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
98
|
Lyons M, Simeonov L. The undesirable Dark Triad? Women dislike Dark Triad male faces across different mating context and socio-ecological conditions. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2015.11.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
99
|
Foo YZ, Nakagawa S, Rhodes G, Simmons LW. The effects of sex hormones on immune function: a meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 92:551-571. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhi Foo
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia; 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia; 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; 340 Great King Street Dunedin 9016 New Zealand
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales; UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Gillian Rhodes
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia; 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
| | - Leigh W. Simmons
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia; 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia; 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
| |
Collapse
|
100
|
Fruhen LS, Watkins CD, Jones BC. Perceptions of facial dominance, trustworthiness and attractiveness predict managerial pay awards in experimental tasks. LEADERSHIP QUARTERLY 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|