Integrating fundamental and formant frequencies in women's preferences for men's voices

Feinberg, D.R., Jones, B.C. , Debruine, L.M. , O'Connor, J.J.M., Tigue, C.C. and Borak, D.J. (2011) Integrating fundamental and formant frequencies in women's preferences for men's voices. Behavioral Ecology, 22, pp. 1320-1325. (doi: 10.1093/beheco/arr134)

Abstract

Prior work has emphasized independent effects of voice pitch and apparent vocal tract length on women's preferences for men's voices. An interaction between the effects of pitch and apparent vocal tract length on male vocal attractiveness might be expected, however, given interactions between the effects of voice pitch and apparent vocal tract length on perceptions of body size, age, and sex. Here we present empirical evidence for such an interaction. Women preferred low pitch in men's voices more when associated with large vocal tracts than when associated with small vocal tracts and preferred large vocal tracts in men's voices more when associated with low pitch than when associated with high pitch. Collectively, these findings demonstrate integration of different vocal cues in women's mate preferences, potentially allowing women to better assess the quality of potential mates.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: DeBruine, Professor Lisa and Jones, Professor Benedict
• Authors: Feinberg, D.R., Jones, B.C., Debruine, L.M., O'Connor, J.J.M., Tigue, C.C., and Borak, D.J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Behavioral Ecology
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 1045-2249
• Published Online: 03 August 2011