Male facial cues to physical strength in Europe: Medium-strength preference and higher aggressiveness attribution to the weakest

Katrin Schaefer; Veronika Melis Seiser; Simon Prucha; Verena Kerschbaumer; Bernhard Fink; Sonja Windhager

doi:10.1002/ajhb.24040

Male facial cues to physical strength in Europe: Medium-strength preference and higher aggressiveness attribution to the weakest

Am J Hum Biol. 2024 Jan 4:e24040. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.24040. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Katrin Schaefer^{1

2}, Veronika Melis Seiser¹, Simon Prucha¹, Verena Kerschbaumer¹, Bernhard Fink^{1

2

3}, Sonja Windhager^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
² Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
³ Biosocial Science Information, Biedermannsdorf, Austria.

PMID: 38174630
DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24040

Abstract

Objectives: The capacity to assess male physical strength from facial cues may be adaptive given health and fitness-related associations with muscular strength. Our study complements recent research on strength-related face perceptions of male Maasai by applying the protocol to male European faces and assessors.

Methods: Five distinct facial morphs calibrated for handgrip strength (HGS) were manufactured with geometric morphometrics performing regressions of the Procrustes shape coordinates on HGS in a sample of 26 European men (18-32 years). Young adult men and women (n = 445) rated these morphs on physical strength, attractiveness, and aggressiveness.

Results: Facial morphs calibrated to lower HGS were rated as less strong, less attractive, and more aggressive than those calibrated to higher HGS. Medium levels of HGS were associated with the highest attractiveness ratings.

Conclusions: The rating patterns of physical strength, attractiveness, and aggressiveness for European male facial morphs exhibit similarity to previous ratings of Maasai male faces. Therefore, the current findings corroborate the suggestion of a common mechanism for social attributions based on facial cues to physical strength, modulated by local ecology and societal context.