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Accepted VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Beards and the big city: displays of masculinity may be amplified under crowded conditions
Evolution and Human Behavior, Vol.38(2), pp.259-264
2017
Abstract
Facial hair is a prominent secondary sexual trait, particularly given the importance of the face in interpersonal communication. Bizarrely by animal standards, men expend considerable effort every day trimming, waxing or shaving this androgen-dependent trait Why some men shave this cue of masculinity off, and why women's preferences for facial hair vary so dramatically, remains largely unresolved. Using a large cross-cultural sample, we explore city- and nation-level variation in preferences for beards and in facial hair grooming patterns to test how economic and demographic conditions alter frequency-dependence in preferences for beardedness. We found that women's preferences for beards were strongest in countries with lower average incomes. Beards were most common in cities with larger populations, in countries where women express stronger preferences for facial hair and life expectancy was higher. Frequencies of non-beard facial hair styles (e.g. mustaches, goatees) were most common in large cities, but were unrelated to any demographic factors. Our results suggest a role for female choice in shaping large-scale patterns of facial hair grooming and highlight that under crowded conditions with high anonymity, displays of masculinity may be amplified.
Details
- Title
- Beards and the big city: displays of masculinity may be amplified under crowded conditions
- Authors
- Barnaby J W Dixson (Author) - The University of QueenslandMarkus J Rantala (Author) - University of TurkuEduardo Ferreira Melo (Author) - UNSW AustraliaRobert C Brooks (Author) - UNSW Australia
- Publication details
- Evolution and Human Behavior, Vol.38(2), pp.259-264
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc.
- Date published
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2016.10.009
- ISSN
- 1879-0607; 1090-5138
- Organisation Unit
- Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99629737902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Behavioral Sciences
- Psychology, Biological
- Social Sciences, Biomedical