Sexual dimorphism in the female face is a cue to health and social status but not age

Moore, F.R., Law Smith, M.J., Taylor, V. and Perrett, D.I. (2011) Sexual dimorphism in the female face is a cue to health and social status but not age. Personality and Individual Differences, 50(7), pp. 1068-1073. (doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2011.01.026)

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Abstract

The link between femininity and attractiveness in the female face is attributed to the value placed on fertility in attractiveness judgements of women. This is supported by relationships between femininity, health and age, although relatively little research has systematically tested the contribution of each to femininity, or individual differences in men’s face preferences. In Study 1 we found that preferences for femininity remained significant, although reduced, when health was controlled for and remained significant when age was controlled for. We also found a positive relationship between men’s ideal number of children and femininity preferences. In Study 2 we found a negative relationship between men’s preferences for social status in a partner and for facial femininity. Results suggest that femininity provides cues to multiple traits and we recommend further investigation of systematic variation in men’s mate preferences.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:F. Moore was funded by an MRC PhD Studentship for the image collection phase.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Moore, Fhionna
Authors: Moore, F.R., Law Smith, M.J., Taylor, V., and Perrett, D.I.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
Journal Name:Personality and Individual Differences
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0191-8869
ISSN (Online):1873-3549
Published Online:12 February 2011

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