TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual dimorphism in the female face is a cue to health and social status but not age
AU - Moore, Fhionna Rosemary
AU - Law Smith, Miriam Jane
AU - Taylor, V.
AU - Perrett, David Ian
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
U2 - 10.1016/j.paid.2011.01.026
DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2011.01.026
M3 - Article
SN - 0191-8869
VL - 50
SP - 1068
EP - 1073
JO - Personality and Individual Differences
JF - Personality and Individual Differences
IS - 7
ER -