Variation in perceptions of physical dominance and trustworthiness predicts individual differences in the effect of relationship context on women's preferences for masculine pitch in men's voices

Vukovic, J., Jones, B. , Feinberg, D.R., Debruine, L. , Smith, F.G., Welling, L.L.M. and Little, A.C. (2011) Variation in perceptions of physical dominance and trustworthiness predicts individual differences in the effect of relationship context on women's preferences for masculine pitch in men's voices. British Journal of Psychology, 102(1), pp. 37-48. (doi: 10.1348/000712610X498750)

Abstract

Several studies have found that women tend to demonstrate stronger preferences for masculine men as short-term partners than as long-term partners, though there is considerable variation among women in the magnitude of this effect. One possible source of this variation is individual differences in the extent to which women perceive masculine men to possess antisocial traits that are less costly in short-term relationships than in long-term relationships. Consistent with this proposal, here we show that the extent to which women report stronger preferences for men with low (i.e., masculine) voice pitch as short-term partners than as long-term partners is associated with the extent to which they attribute physical dominance and low trustworthiness to these masculine voices. Thus, our findings suggest that variation in the extent to which women attribute negative personality characteristics to masculine men predicts individual differences in the magnitude of the effect of relationship context on women's masculinity preferences, highlighting the importance of perceived personality attributions for individual differences in women's judgements of men's vocal attractiveness and, potentially, their mate preferences.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: DeBruine, Professor Lisa and Jones, Professor Benedict
• Authors: Vukovic, J., Jones, B., Feinberg, D.R., Debruine, L., Smith, F.G., Welling, L.L.M., and Little, A.C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: British Journal of Psychology
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• ISSN: 0007-1269
• Published Online: 17 January 2011