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Moroń M, Jach Ł, Jonason PK. Motivations to Enhance One's Facial Hair: Affiliation, Rivalry, and Stress. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024:10.1007/s10508-024-02919-0. [PMID: 38886250 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-024-02919-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Facial hair is a sexually dimorphic trait with potential evolutionary and sociocultural functions. Bearded men are perceived as dominant, aggressive, and masculine, but also as having better parenting skills. Men may intentionally manage the amount and shape of their facial hair as a part of their self-promotion strategy; however, facial hair management entails costs in terms of time, effort, and money. We explored psychological factors associated with facial hair enhancement motivation among men. A total of 414 men (aged 18-40 years) reported the current amount of their facial hair along with their facial hair enhancement motivations, gender role stress, intrasexual competitiveness, and fundamental social motives. Willingness to care for facial hair was associated with the amount of facial hair men claimed to have and correlated with the fundamental social motives of affiliation and social status, intrasexual competition, and gender role stress. Therefore, facial hair enhancement may be regarded as a self-presentation strategy aimed at acquiring a beneficial position in social networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Moroń
- Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Grażyńskiego Street 53, 40-126, Katowice, Poland
| | - Łukasz Jach
- Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Grażyńskiego Street 53, 40-126, Katowice, Poland.
| | - Peter K Jonason
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Cross-Cultural Psychology Centre, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw, Poland
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Taubert J, Wally S, Dixson BJ. Preliminary evidence of an increased susceptibility to face pareidolia in postpartum women. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230126. [PMID: 37700700 PMCID: PMC10498352 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
As primates, we are hypersensitive to faces and face-like patterns in the visual environment, hence we often perceive illusory faces in otherwise inanimate objects, such as burnt pieces of toast and the surface of the moon. Although this phenomenon, known as face pareidolia, is a common experience, it is unknown whether our susceptibility to face pareidolia is static across our lifespan or what factors would cause it to change. Given the evidence that behaviour towards face stimuli is modulated by the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), we reasoned that participants in stages of life associated with high levels of endogenous OT might be more susceptible to face pareidolia than participants in other stages of life. We tested this hypothesis by assessing pareidolia susceptibility in two groups of women; pregnant women (low endogenous OT) and postpartum women (high endogenous OT). We found evidence that postpartum women report seeing face pareidolia more easily than women who are currently pregnant. These data, collected online, suggest that our sensitivity to face-like patterns is not fixed and may change throughout adulthood, providing a crucial proof of concept that requires further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Taubert
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, McElwain Building, St Lucia, 4072 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Samantha Wally
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, McElwain Building, St Lucia, 4072 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Barnaby J. Dixson
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, McElwain Building, St Lucia, 4072 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Psychology and Social Sciences, The University of Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
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Jach Ł, Moroń M, Jonason PK. Men's Facial Hair Preferences Reflect Facial Hair Impression Management Functions Across Contexts and Men Know It. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2023; 52:2465-2473. [PMID: 37067629 PMCID: PMC10501953 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02595-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Men with distinct facial hair are perceived as more aggressive, dominant, older, and more formidable, mostly by other men. However, despite considerable interest in the social perception of beardedness, only a few studies have explored men's preferences toward facial hair. We investigated men's preferences toward facial hair and whether their judgments of facial hair appropriateness in social situations depended on their actual beardedness and the type of social interaction (N = 509; age: M = 29.35, SD = 7.24). Men preferred having more facial hair, particularly when they have a heavy stubble or a full beard. Men preferred more facial hair for themselves compared to other men, suggesting that men's preferences for facial hair could be based on the frequency-dependent value of a display, namely more value assigned to rarer attributes. Men's judgments of the appropriateness of facial hair were sensitive to social situations for displaying facial hair as well. More facial hair was considered more appropriate for informal situations, especially with another man. Social norms associated with formal interaction could, therefore, limit the impression management functions of beards in intrasexual competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Jach
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Grażyńskiego Street 53, 40-126, Katowice, Poland.
| | - Marcin Moroń
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Grażyńskiego Street 53, 40-126, Katowice, Poland
| | - Peter K Jonason
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Cross-Cultural Psychology Centre, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw, Poland
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Lee AJ, McGuire NKJ. Women's Preferences for Masculinity in Male Faces Are Predicted by Material Scarcity, But Not Time or Psychological Scarcity. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 21:14747049231175073. [PMID: 37735893 PMCID: PMC10517608 DOI: 10.1177/14747049231175073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Facial femininity in men is purportedly used as a cue by women as a signal of parental quality and willingness to provide resources. Accordingly, in contexts where choosing a partner that will provide resources is more beneficial (e.g., when resources are scarce), women have shown an increase preference for facial femininity in male faces. However, domains of scarcity often covary, and it is, therefore, unclear whether these contextual shifts in facial masculinity/femininity preferences are specific to material scarcity (as implied by previous theory), or due to an unrelated domain of scarcity (e.g., time or psychological scarcity). Here, a sample of 823 women completed the Perceived Scarcity Scale, which measures three separate domains of scarcity: material scarcity, time scarcity, and psychological scarcity. Participants also rated the attractiveness of 42 male faces, which were measured on objective sexual dimorphism and perceived masculinity. Consistent with theory, material scarcity, and not time or psychological scarcity, was associated with a decreased preference for objective sexual dimorphism (i.e., an increased preference for facial femininity). This study provides evidence that women use sexual dimorphism as a cue to material resource provisioning potential when assessing men as a mate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J. Lee
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
| | - Nikita K. J. McGuire
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
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Garza R, Byrd-Craven J. The role of hormones in attraction and visual attention to facial masculinity. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1067487. [PMID: 36860792 PMCID: PMC9969844 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1067487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study investigated the ovulatory shift hypothesis, which suggests that women prefer more masculine traits when estradiol is high, and progesterone is low (E/P ratio). The current study used an eye tracking paradigm to measure women's visual attention to facial masculinity across the menstrual cycle. Estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) were collected to determine if salivary biomarkers were associated with visual attention to masculine faces in a short- and long-term mating context. Women (N = 81) provided saliva samples at three time points throughout their menstrual cycle and were asked to rate and view men's faces that had been manipulated to appear feminine and masculine. Overall, masculine faces were viewed longer compared to feminine faces and this was moderated by mating context, where women viewed masculine faces longer for a long-term relationship. There was not any evidence suggesting that E/P ratio was associated with preferences for facial masculinity, but there was evidence to suggest that hormones were associated with visual attention to men in general. In line with sexual strategies theory, there was evidence to suggest that mating context and facial masculinity are important in mate choice; however, there was no evidence to suggest that women's mate choice was associated with shifts across the menstrual cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ray Garza
- Department of Psychology and Communication, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Ray Garza,
| | - Jennifer Byrd-Craven
- Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
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The social predictors of paternal antenatal mental health and their associations with maternal mental health in the Queensland Family Cohort prospective study. Arch Womens Ment Health 2023; 26:107-116. [PMID: 35984501 PMCID: PMC9908725 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-022-01257-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Antenatal depression (AND) affects 1 in 10 fathers, potentially negatively impacting maternal mental health and well-being during and after the transition to parenthood. However, few studies have assessed the social predictors of paternal AND or their possible associations with maternal mental health. We analysed data from 180 couples participating in the Queensland Family Cohort longitudinal study. Both parents completed surveys measuring mental health, relationship quality, social support, and sleep quality at 24 weeks of pregnancy. Mothers also completed the same surveys 6 weeks' postpartum. Antenatal depression, stress, and anxiety were highest among fathers reporting lower social support and higher sleep impairment. Maternal AND, stress, and anxiety were higher among mothers reporting higher physical pain and poor sleep quality. Postnatally, mothers reporting lower social support also reported higher depression, anxiety, stress, and psycho-social well-being. While there were no significant associations between AND among fathers and maternal antenatal or postnatal depression, an exploratory analysis revealed that mothers whose partners reported lower antenatal social support also reported lower postnatal social support and higher postnatal depression. Our findings highlight the importance of including data among fathers to achieve a whole family approach to well-being during the transition to parenthood.
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Facial hair may slow detection of happy facial expressions in the face in the crowd paradigm. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5911. [PMID: 35396450 PMCID: PMC8993935 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09397-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Human visual systems have evolved to extract ecologically relevant information from complex scenery. In some cases, the face in the crowd visual search task demonstrates an anger superiority effect, where anger is allocated preferential attention. Across three studies (N = 419), we tested whether facial hair guides attention in visual search and influences the speed of detecting angry and happy facial expressions in large arrays of faces. In Study 1, participants were faster to search through clean-shaven crowds and detect bearded targets than to search through bearded crowds and detect clean-shaven targets. In Study 2, targets were angry and happy faces presented in neutral backgrounds. Facial hair of the target faces was also manipulated. An anger superiority effect emerged that was augmented by the presence of facial hair, which was due to the slower detection of happiness on bearded faces. In Study 3, targets were happy and angry faces presented in either bearded or clean-shaven backgrounds. Facial hair of the background faces was also systematically manipulated. A significant anger superiority effect was revealed, although this was not moderated by the target's facial hair. Rather, the anger superiority effect was larger in clean-shaven than bearded face backgrounds. Together, results suggest that facial hair does influence detection of emotional expressions in visual search, however, rather than facilitating an anger superiority effect as a potential threat detection system, facial hair may reduce detection of happy faces within the face in the crowd paradigm.
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Brown M, Donahoe S, Boykin K. Physical Strength as a Cue to Men’s Capability as Protective Parents. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40806-022-00315-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Dixson BJW. Sexual Selection and the Evolution of Human Appearance Enhancements. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 51:49-55. [PMID: 33721143 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-01946-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Barnaby J W Dixson
- School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Petrie, QLD, Australia.
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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Wade TJ, Fisher ML, Burch RL. Toupee or Not Toupee?: Cranial Hair and Perceptions of Men’s Attractiveness, Personality, and Other Evolutionary Relevant Traits. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40806-021-00303-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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11
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Beards Increase the Speed, Accuracy, and Explicit Judgments of Facial Threat. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-021-00169-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Wen F, Zuo B, Wang Y, Ma S, Song S, Zhang H. Non-Pregnant and Pregnant Women's Femininity Preferences in Male Faces: Tests Based on Within- and Between-Sex Sexual Dimorphism Facial Manipulations. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2021; 50:531-541. [PMID: 33398708 PMCID: PMC7889572 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Past research on women's preferences for male facial masculinity in Western cultures has produced inconsistent results. Some inconsistency may be related to the use of different facial stimulus manipulations (e.g., between-sex sexual dimorphic facial manipulation or within-sex sexual dimorphic facial manipulation) that do not perfectly avoid non-facial cues, and pregnancy status may also influence women's face preferences. We therefore recruited pregnant and nonpregnant Chinese women and manipulated the sexual dimorphism of male facial stimuli to explore the influences of manipulation methods, non-facial cues, and pregnancy status on face preferences. Results showed that: (1) in contrast with a general masculinity preference observed in Western cultures, both pregnant and nonpregnant Chinese women preferred feminized and neutral male faces generally; (2) pregnant women's preference for feminized male faces was stable across manipulation methods, while nonpregnant women preferred feminized male faces except under between-sex sexual dimorphism manipulation; and (3) manipulation methods, rather than non-facial cues, influenced participants' face preferences. Specifically, women showed the strongest preferences for femininity when face stimuli were manipulated by within-sex sexual dimorphic facial manipulation, followed by unmanipulated faces and between-sex sexual dimorphic facial manipulation. This effect was stronger for nonpregnant women in the unmanipulated condition and for pregnant women in the between-sex sexual dimorphic facial manipulation. This research provides empirical evidence of women's preferences for sexual dimorphism in male faces in a non-Western culture, as well as the effects of facial manipulation methods, pregnancy status, and the interactions between these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Wen
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Social Psychology, Central China Normal University, Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Bin Zuo
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Social Psychology, Central China Normal University, Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| | - Yang Wang
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Social Psychology, Central China Normal University, Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Shuhan Ma
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Social Psychology, Central China Normal University, Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Shijie Song
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Social Psychology, Central China Normal University, Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Hongxia Zhang
- Xiantao First People's Hospital of Hubei Province, Xiantao, China
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Ekrami O, Claes P, Shriver MD, Weinberg SM, Marazita ML, Walsh S, Van Dongen S. Effects of Male Facial Masculinity on Perceived Attractiveness. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 7:73-88. [PMID: 33575162 DOI: 10.1007/s40750-020-00156-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Studies suggest that high levels of masculinity in men can be a signal of 'better genes' as well as low parental investment. It is the trade-off between these two qualities that has led to the hypothesis that women's preferences for male masculinity are condition-dependent, yet, not all studies support this hypothesis. In addition, there is evidence that more average faces would be perceived as more attractive. Here we study the variation in masculinity preferences of a cohort of heterosexual women (n=769), using manipulated 3D faces of male subjects. We used linear mixed models to test for effects of various covariates such as relationship status, use of hormonal contraception, sociosexual orientation and self-perceived attractiveness on preference for masculinity. Our results show that women's sociosexual orientation has a positive correlation with masculinity preference while using hormonal contraception decreases this preference. None of the other covariates displayed any significant effect on masculinity preference. The initial level of masculinity of the faces (very low, low, average, high and very high) was also shown to affect this preference, where we found a significant preference for higher masculinity in the very low and average group, while no preference was found in the other groups. Our findings support the notion that condition-dependent variables have very small effects, if any, on women's preference for masculinity in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omid Ekrami
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Peter Claes
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Medical Imaging Research Center, UZ Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Mark D Shriver
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Seth M Weinberg
- Department of Oral Biology, Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Mary L Marazita
- Department of Oral Biology, Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Susan Walsh
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Stefan Van Dongen
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Jach Ł, Moroń M. I Can Wear a Beard, but you Should Shave…Preferences for Men's Facial Hair From the Perspective of Both Sexes. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 18:1474704920961728. [PMID: 33140655 PMCID: PMC10355296 DOI: 10.1177/1474704920961728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Researchers have found that men's facial hair may have certain signaling functions connected with intrasexual competition and intersexual attractiveness. The interesting issue is whether men's and women's preferences for men's facial hair may be considered a reflection of their intuitive knowledge about these functions. The aim of the presented studies was to analyze women's and men's preferences regarding men's facial hair using questions with a dichotomous answer format (Study 1 and Study 2) and pictorial stimuli (Study 2). In both studies, women were asked to indicate their preferences for men's facial hair. Men were asked to report preferences for facial hair in themselves and in other men, as well as to report their actual appearance of facial hair. The results showed that women's preferences for men's facial hair were ambiguous, while men preferred facial hair for themselves and had a lower inclination to prefer facial hair in other men. It suggests that men may be aware of some aspects of signaling functions of facial hair, especially these connected with intrasexual competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Jach
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Marcin Moroń
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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Dixson BJW, Lee AJ. Cross-Cultural Variation in Men’s Beardedness. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-020-00150-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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16
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Pazhoohi F, Kingstone A. Parasite Prevalence and Income Inequality Positively Predict Beardedness Across 25 Countries. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-020-00132-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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17
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Sexual Selection, Signaling and Facial Hair: US and India Ratings of Variable Male Facial Hair. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-020-00134-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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18
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Multivariate Intra-Sexual Selection on Men’s Perceptions of Male Facial Morphology. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-020-00128-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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19
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Sacco DF, Holifield K, Drea K, Brown M, Macchione A. Dad and Mom Bods? Inferences of Parenting Ability from Bodily Cues. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40806-020-00229-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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20
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Clarkson TR, Sidari MJ, Sains R, Alexander M, Harrison M, Mefodeva V, Pearson S, Lee AJ, Dixson BJW. A multivariate analysis of women's mating strategies and sexual selection on men's facial morphology. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191209. [PMID: 32218951 PMCID: PMC7029899 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The strength and direction of sexual selection via female choice on masculine facial traits in men is a paradox in human mate choice research. While masculinity may communicate benefits to women and offspring directly (i.e. resources) or indirectly (i.e. health), masculine men may be costly as long-term partners owing to lower paternal investment. Mating strategy theory suggests women's preferences for masculine traits are strongest when the costs associated with masculinity are reduced. This study takes a multivariate approach to testing whether women's mate preferences are context-dependent. Women (n = 919) rated attractiveness when considering long-term and short-term relationships for male faces varying in beardedness (clean-shaven and full beards) and facial masculinity (30% and 60% feminized, unmanipulated, 30% and 60% masculinized). Participants then completed scales measuring pathogen, sexual and moral disgust, disgust towards ectoparasites, reproductive ambition, self-perceived mate value and the facial hair in partners and fathers. In contrast to past research, we found no associations between pathogen disgust, self-perceived mate value or reproductive ambition and facial masculinity preferences. However, we found a significant positive association between moral disgust and preferences for masculine faces and bearded faces. Preferences for beards were lower among women with higher ectoparasite disgust, providing evidence for ectoparasite avoidance hypothesis. However, women reporting higher pathogen disgust gave higher attractiveness ratings for bearded faces than women reporting lower pathogen disgust, providing support for parasite-stress theories of sexual selection and mate choice. Preferences for beards were also highest among single and married women with the strongest reproductive ambition. Overall, our results reflect mixed associations between individual differences in mating strategies and women's mate preferences for masculine facial traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa R. Clarkson
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Morgan J. Sidari
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rosanna Sains
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Meredith Alexander
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Melissa Harrison
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Valeriya Mefodeva
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Samuel Pearson
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anthony J. Lee
- Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK
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