Individual differences in preferences for cues to intelligence in the face

Fhionna R. Moore; Miriam J. Law Smith; David Ian Perrett

doi:10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.003

Individual differences in preferences for cues to intelligence in the face

Fhionna R. Moore, Miriam J. Law Smith, David Ian Perrett

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We tested for individual differences in women's preferences for cues to intelligence in male faces in accordance with hormonal status (i.e. menstrual cycle phase and use of hormonal contraceptives), relationship status and context, and self-rated intelligence. There were no effects of hormonal or relationship status (Studies 1 and 2) on preferences. There was, however, a positive relationship between self-rated intelligence and preferences for cues to intelligence in the face in the context of a long-term relationship, suggesting context-specific assortment (Study 3). In Study 4, self-rated partner intelligence correlated with preferences for facial cues to intelligence. We discuss these results in the context of intelligence as a fitness indicator and suggest that future research must control for assortative mating for cognitive traits in order to better understand intelligence in mate choice.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	19-25
Journal	Intelligence
Volume	44
Issue number	May-June
Early online date	3 Mar 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.003
Publication status	Published - May 2014

Keywords

Fitness-indicator
Intelligence
Face
Attractiveness
Individual-differences

Access to Document

10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.003

Perrett_2015_Int_Individual_AM
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.003
Accepted author manuscript, 530 KB

Cite this

@article{bb8b50d59a0b49fc986042a1506bd41c,

title = "Individual differences in preferences for cues to intelligence in the face",

abstract = "We tested for individual differences in women's preferences for cues to intelligence in male faces in accordance with hormonal status (i.e. menstrual cycle phase and use of hormonal contraceptives), relationship status and context, and self-rated intelligence. There were no effects of hormonal or relationship status (Studies 1 and 2) on preferences. There was, however, a positive relationship between self-rated intelligence and preferences for cues to intelligence in the face in the context of a long-term relationship, suggesting context-specific assortment (Study 3). In Study 4, self-rated partner intelligence correlated with preferences for facial cues to intelligence. We discuss these results in the context of intelligence as a fitness indicator and suggest that future research must control for assortative mating for cognitive traits in order to better understand intelligence in mate choice.",

keywords = "Fitness-indicator, Intelligence, Face, Attractiveness, Individual-differences",

author = "Moore, {Fhionna R.} and {Law Smith}, {Miriam J.} and Perrett, {David Ian}",

note = "Date of acceptance: 03/02/2014",

year = "2014",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.003",

language = "English",

volume = "44",

pages = "19--25",

journal = "Intelligence",

issn = "0160-2896",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "May-June",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Individual differences in preferences for cues to intelligence in the face

AU - Moore, Fhionna R.

AU - Law Smith, Miriam J.

AU - Perrett, David Ian

N1 - Date of acceptance: 03/02/2014

PY - 2014/5

Y1 - 2014/5

N2 - We tested for individual differences in women's preferences for cues to intelligence in male faces in accordance with hormonal status (i.e. menstrual cycle phase and use of hormonal contraceptives), relationship status and context, and self-rated intelligence. There were no effects of hormonal or relationship status (Studies 1 and 2) on preferences. There was, however, a positive relationship between self-rated intelligence and preferences for cues to intelligence in the face in the context of a long-term relationship, suggesting context-specific assortment (Study 3). In Study 4, self-rated partner intelligence correlated with preferences for facial cues to intelligence. We discuss these results in the context of intelligence as a fitness indicator and suggest that future research must control for assortative mating for cognitive traits in order to better understand intelligence in mate choice.

AB - We tested for individual differences in women's preferences for cues to intelligence in male faces in accordance with hormonal status (i.e. menstrual cycle phase and use of hormonal contraceptives), relationship status and context, and self-rated intelligence. There were no effects of hormonal or relationship status (Studies 1 and 2) on preferences. There was, however, a positive relationship between self-rated intelligence and preferences for cues to intelligence in the face in the context of a long-term relationship, suggesting context-specific assortment (Study 3). In Study 4, self-rated partner intelligence correlated with preferences for facial cues to intelligence. We discuss these results in the context of intelligence as a fitness indicator and suggest that future research must control for assortative mating for cognitive traits in order to better understand intelligence in mate choice.

KW - Fitness-indicator

KW - Intelligence

KW - Face

KW - Attractiveness

KW - Individual-differences

U2 - 10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.003

DO - 10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.003

M3 - Article

SN - 0160-2896

VL - 44

SP - 19

EP - 25

JO - Intelligence

JF - Intelligence

IS - May-June

ER -

Individual differences in preferences for cues to intelligence in the face

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this