Male facial cues to physical strength in Europe: Medium‐strength preference and higher aggressiveness attribution to the weakest.
More On Article
- A microcontextual investigation of Later Stone Age ash deposits and associated interment of human remains at Faraoskop Rock Shelter, South Africa
- 35 Jahre “Archäologie Österreichs”. Ein Rück-und Ausblick auf die Wissensvermittlung durch Printmedien der ÖGUF.
- HEAS Members Publish GENOVIS: a Python package for the visualization of population genetic analyses
- GENOVIS: a Python package for the visualization of population genetic analyses
- Dealing With Inbuilt Age: A Bayesian Approach to Radiocarbon Dating of Rice, Bamboo and Charcoal From Non Ban Jak, Thailand.
Schaefer, K., Seiser, V.M., Prucha, S., Kerschbaumer, V., Fink, B., Windhager, S., 2024. Male facial cues to physical strength in Europe: Medium‐strength preference and higher aggressiveness attribution to the weakest. American journal of human biology, e24040.
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.