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Meng Y, Jia S, Wang Q, Liu J, Wang H, Sun T, Li X, Liu Y. Height matters: An EEG study of the relative height disadvantage promoting third-party punishment. Neuroscience 2024; 557:37-50. [PMID: 38986738 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The study employed event-related potential (ERP), time-frequency analysis, and functional connectivity to comprehensively explore the influence of male's relative height on third-party punishment (TPP) and its underlying neural mechanism. The results found that punishment rate and transfer amount are significantly greater when the height of the third-party is lower than that of the recipient, suggesting that male's height disadvantage promotes TPP. Neural results found that the height disadvantage induced a smaller N1. The height disadvantage also evoked greater P300 amplitude, more theta power, and more alpha power. Furthermore, a significantly stronger wPLI between the rTPJ and the posterior parietal and a significantly stronger wPLI between the DLPFC and the posterior parietal were observed when third-party was at the height disadvantage. These results imply that the height disadvantage causes negative emotions and affects the fairness consideration in the early processing stage; the third-party evaluates the blame of violators and makes an appropriate punishment decision later. Our findings indicate that anger and reputation concern caused by height disadvantage promote TPP. The current study holds significance as it underscores the psychological importance of height in males, broadens the perspective on factors influencing TPP, validates the promoting effect of personal disadvantages on prosocial behavior, enriches our understanding of indirect reciprocity theory, and extends the application of the evolution theory of Napoleon complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Meng
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, No.21 Bohai Avenue, Caofeidian District, Tangshan, Hebei Province, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, No.199 South Chang' an Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710062, China
| | - Shuyu Jia
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, No.21 Bohai Avenue, Caofeidian District, Tangshan, Hebei Province, China; Center for Computational Biology, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No. 27, Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Qian Wang
- College of Foreign Languages, North China University of Science and Technology, No.21 Bohai avenue, Caofeidian District, Tangshan, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jingyue Liu
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, No.21 Bohai Avenue, Caofeidian District, Tangshan, Hebei Province, China
| | - He Wang
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, No.21 Bohai Avenue, Caofeidian District, Tangshan, Hebei Province, China; School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, No.21 Bohai avenue, Caofeidian District, Tangshan, Hebei Province, China
| | - Tianyi Sun
- School of Education Science, Xinyang Normal University, No.237 Nanhu Road, Shihe District, Xinyang City, Henan Province, China
| | - Xuzhou Li
- Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, No.768 Juxian Road, Chenggong, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Yingjie Liu
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, No.21 Bohai Avenue, Caofeidian District, Tangshan, Hebei Province, China; School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, No.21 Bohai avenue, Caofeidian District, Tangshan, Hebei Province, China
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Schaefer K, Seiser VM, Prucha S, Kerschbaumer V, Fink B, Windhager S. Male facial cues to physical strength in Europe: Medium-strength preference and higher aggressiveness attribution to the weakest. Am J Hum Biol 2024; 36:e24040. [PMID: 38174630 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The capacity to assess male physical strength from facial cues may be adaptive given health and fitness-related associations with muscular strength. Our study complements recent research on strength-related face perceptions of male Maasai by applying the protocol to male European faces and assessors. METHODS Five distinct facial morphs calibrated for handgrip strength (HGS) were manufactured with geometric morphometrics performing regressions of the Procrustes shape coordinates on HGS in a sample of 26 European men (18-32 years). Young adult men and women (n = 445) rated these morphs on physical strength, attractiveness, and aggressiveness. RESULTS Facial morphs calibrated to lower HGS were rated as less strong, less attractive, and more aggressive than those calibrated to higher HGS. Medium levels of HGS were associated with the highest attractiveness ratings. CONCLUSIONS The rating patterns of physical strength, attractiveness, and aggressiveness for European male facial morphs exhibit similarity to previous ratings of Maasai male faces. Therefore, the current findings corroborate the suggestion of a common mechanism for social attributions based on facial cues to physical strength, modulated by local ecology and societal context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Schaefer
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Simon Prucha
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Verena Kerschbaumer
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Fink
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Biosocial Science Information, Biedermannsdorf, Austria
| | - Sonja Windhager
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Meng Y, Jia S, Liu J, Zhang C, Wang H, Liu Y. The shorter a man is, the more he defends fairness: relative height disadvantage promoting third-party punishment-evidence from inter-brain synchronization. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae048. [PMID: 38342691 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae048] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Third-party punishment occurs in interpersonal interactions to sustain social norms, and is strongly influenced by the characteristics of the interacting individuals. During social interactions, height is the striking physical appearance features first observed, height disadvantage may critically influence men's behavior and mental health. Herein, we explored the influence of height disadvantage on third-party punishment through time-frequency analysis and electroencephalography hyperscanning. Two participants were randomly designated as the recipient and third party after height comparison and instructed to complete third-party punishment task. Compared with when the third party's height is higher than the recipient's height, when the third party's height is lower, the punishment rate and transfer amount were significantly higher. Only for highly unfair offers, the theta power was significantly greater when the third party's height was lower. The inter-brain synchronization between the recipient and the third party was significantly stronger when the third party's height was lower. Compared with the fair and medium unfair offers, the inter-brain synchronization was strongest for highly unfair offers. Our findings indicate that the height disadvantage-induced anger and reputation concern promote third-party punishment and inter-brain synchronization. This study enriches research perspective and expands the application of the theory of Napoleon complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Meng
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, 21 Bohai avenue, Caofeidian district, Tangshan 063000, Hebei province, China
| | - Shuyu Jia
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, 21 Bohai avenue, Caofeidian district, Tangshan 063000, Hebei province, China
| | - Jingyue Liu
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, 21 Bohai avenue, Caofeidian district, Tangshan 063000, Hebei province, China
| | - Chenyu Zhang
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, 21 Bohai avenue, Caofeidian district, Tangshan 063000, Hebei province, China
| | - He Wang
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, 21 Bohai avenue, Caofeidian district, Tangshan 063000, Hebei province, China
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, 21 Bohai avenue, Caofeidian district,Tangshan 063000, Hebei province, China
| | - Yingjie Liu
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, 21 Bohai avenue, Caofeidian district, Tangshan 063000, Hebei province, China
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, 21 Bohai avenue, Caofeidian district,Tangshan 063000, Hebei province, China
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Windhager S, Ottendorfer T, Mabulla A, Butovskaya M, Fink B, Schaefer K. Perception of strength, attractiveness and aggressiveness of Maasai male faces calibrated to handgrip strength: Evidence from a European sample. Am J Hum Biol 2023; 35:e23869. [PMID: 36692028 PMCID: PMC10909419 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous research showed that male and female members of the Maasai from Northern Tanzania judge images of facial morphs calibrated to greater handgrip strength (HGS) higher on strength and attractiveness, but lower on aggressiveness than those calibrated to lower HGS. The accurate assessment of male physical strength from facial information may be adaptive as suggested by the evidence on health and fitness-related benefits linked to high muscular strength. METHODS This study extends previous work by obtaining European female (n = 220) and male (n = 51) assessments of HGS-calibrated Maasai male faces. Participants rated five facial morphs for strength, attractiveness, and aggressiveness on computer screens. RESULTS Perceived physical strength increased with morphs calibrated to higher HGS. The lowest and highest HGS morphs were judged lower in attractiveness than the others, and rated aggressiveness decreased in morphs calibrated to higher HGS. CONCLUSIONS Given the high similarity between the current study findings and those previously reported from intra-population assessments of Maasai faces calibrated to HGS, we suggest that strength and aggressiveness perceptions of facial features associated with male physical strength may be universal. Attractiveness assessments of strength-related information in the faces of (very) strong men were less consistent across populations, possibly attributable to cultural and ecological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Windhager
- Department of Evolutionary AnthropologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS)University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | | | - Audax Mabulla
- Department of ArchaeologyUniversity of Dar es SalaamDar es SalaamTanzania
| | - Marina Butovskaya
- Institute of Ethnology and AnthropologyRussian Academy of SciencesMoscowRussian Federation
- Social Anthropology Research and Education CenterRussian State University for HumanitiesMoscowRussian Federation
- Faculty of HumanitiesNational Research University Higher School of EconomicsMoscowRussian Federation
| | - Bernhard Fink
- Department of Evolutionary AnthropologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS)University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Biosocial Science InformationBiedermannsdorfAustria
| | - Katrin Schaefer
- Department of Evolutionary AnthropologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS)University of ViennaViennaAustria
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Kozłowska MA, Talbot D, Jonason PK. The Napoleon complex, revisited: Those high on the Dark Triad traits are dissatisfied with their height and are short. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Facial cues to physical strength increase attractiveness but decrease aggressiveness assessments in male Maasai of Northern Tanzania. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Never look down power: The relationship between looking directions and hierarchical sense. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-019-00324-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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McCarrick D, Brewer G, Lyons M, Pollet TV, Neave N. Referee height influences decision making in British football leagues. BMC Psychol 2020; 8:4. [PMID: 31952550 PMCID: PMC6969448 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-020-0370-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male height is positively associated with social dominance, and more agonistic/competitive behaviours. However, the 'Napoleon complex' or 'small man syndrome' suggests that smaller males are more assertive and punitive to compensate for lack of height and social dominance. Here, we assess possible relationships between height and punitive behaviours in a real-world setting. METHODS Using a non-experimental correlational design, we analysed data on 61 male association football referees from four professional leagues in England, and explored relationships between their height and punitive behaviours in the form of yellow cards, red cards and penalties given during an entire season. RESULTS Overall there was no effect of referee height on fouls awarded. However, there was a main effect of height on yellow cards awarded, with shorter referees issuing more yellow cards. The same effect was found for red cards and penalties, though this was moderated by league. In the lower leagues, more red cards and penalties were awarded by relatively shorter referees, but in the higher leagues more red cards and penalties were awarded by relatively taller referees. CONCLUSIONS These findings from real-life public dominance encounters show that height is associated with punitive behaviours, but is sensitive to context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dane McCarrick
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Gayle Brewer
- School of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Minna Lyons
- School of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Thomas V Pollet
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Nick Neave
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
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Kniffin KM, Bogan VL, Just DR. "Big men" in the office: The gender-specific influence of weight upon persuasiveness. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222761. [PMID: 31710625 PMCID: PMC6844468 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Height has been closely studied as a factor that influences myriad measures of leadership; however, the potential influence of weight on socially beneficial traits has been neglected. Using the anthropological concept of "big men" who relied on influence to lead their communities, we examine the role of weight upon persuasiveness. We present the results of six studies that suggest a tendency for raters to expect larger body mass to correspond with more persuasiveness among men. In the sixth, pre-registered study, we find evidence that fits the hypothesis that weight among men is positively associated with perceived persuasiveness. While the "big man" leadership concept is based on studies of pre-industrial societies where weight embodied status, our findings suggest an evolved bias to favor moderately big men-with respect to perceived persuasiveness-even in environments where there is no reason to interpret over-consumption of food and conservation of energy as a signal of wealth. Our studies contribute novel perspectives on the relevance of weight as an understudied dimension of "big" and offer an important qualification informed by evolutionary perspectives for the stigmatizing effects of relatively large body mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M. Kniffin
- Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Vicki L. Bogan
- Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - David R. Just
- Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
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