Assessing the roles of symmetry, prototypicality, and sexual dimorphism of face shape in health perceptions

Leger, K., Dong, J., DeBruine, L. M. , Jones, B. C. and Shiramizu, V. K.M. (2024) Assessing the roles of symmetry, prototypicality, and sexual dimorphism of face shape in health perceptions. Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology, (doi: 10.1007/s40750-024-00233-6) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Health perceptions are thought to play an important role in human mate preferences. Although many studies have investigated potential relationships between health ratings of faces and facial symmetry, prototypicality, and sexual dimorphism, findings have been mixed across studies. Consequently, we tested for potential relationships between health ratings of faces and the symmetry, prototypicality, and sexual dimorphism of those faces’ shapes. When these three shape characteristics were considered in separate regression models, we observed significant positive relationships between health ratings and both shape symmetry and prototypicality. By contrast, health ratings and sexual dimorphism were not significantly correlated in these analyses. However, in analyses in which symmetry, prototypicality, and sexual dimorphism were entered simultaneously as predictors in a single model, prototypicality, but not symmetry, was significantly correlated with health ratings. Moreover, sexual dimorphism predicted health ratings of female, but not male, faces in these analyses. Collectively, these results suggest that the relationship between symmetry and health ratings is, at least partly, driven by the effect of prototypicality on health perceptions and highlight the importance of considering multiple aspects of face shape when investigating factors that predict perceived health.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was supported by ESRC grant ES/X000249/1 awarded to BCJ and a University of Strathclyde Global Research Award to KL.
• Keywords: Facial attractiveness, perceived health, symmetry, prototypicality, sexual dimorphism.
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: DeBruine, Professor Lisa
• Authors: Leger, K., Dong, J., DeBruine, L. M., Jones, B. C., and Shiramizu, V. K.M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 2198-7335
• ISSN (Online): 2198-7335
• Published Online: 10 February 2024
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2024 Crown
• First Published: First published in Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology 2024
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
• Data DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/VRMXD