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Sexual Dimorphism and Personality Attributions of Male Faces

Abstract  

Individuals tend to judge personality traits on the basis of physical characteristics, particularly facial traits, although
this phenomenon has been mostly studied in relation to the halo effect of attractiveness. However, there are other facial
traits which may also have an impact on personality attributions; here, we focused on masculinity. We carried out principal
component analysis (PCA) of 15 anthropometric measurements from 71 male faces, resulting in three components: Face Height
(C1), Inner Face Breadth (C2), and Cheekbones–Jaw Prominence (C3). The targets’ photographs were rated by 210 women and 177
men on scales for masculinity, attractiveness, and nine psychological characteristics (selected Cattell’s factors): Warmth,
Reasoning, Emotional Stability, Dominance, Liveliness, Rule-Consciousness, Social Boldness, Abstractedness, and Privateness.
We found that masculinity correlated positively with ratings of Dominance and Social Boldness and that masculinity rated by
men correlated positively with ratings of Emotional Stability and Privateness. We found no relationship between masculinity
rated by women and the PCA components, while masculinity rated by men correlated negatively with C2 (possibly related to babyface
features) and positively with C3 (which included features developed under the control of testosterone, such as jaw prominence).
Our results imply sex differences in masculinity ratings. In particular, men used Cheekbones–Jaw Prominence and Inner Face
Breadth as cues for masculinity judgments; on the other hand, women apparently perceive masculinity in a more holistic way.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Category Original Paper
  • Pages 1-7
  • DOI 10.1007/s10508-011-9821-6
  • Authors
    • Vera Pivonkova, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Husnikova 2075, 158 00 Prague, Czech Republic
    • Anna Rubesova, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Husnikova 2075, 158 00 Prague, Czech Republic
    • Jitka Lindova, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Husnikova 2075, 158 00 Prague, Czech Republic
    • Jan Havlicek, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Husnikova 2075, 158 00 Prague, Czech Republic
    • Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
    • Online ISSN 1573-2800
    • Print ISSN 0004-0002
Posted in: Journal Article Abstracts on 09/12/2011 | Link to this post on IFP |
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