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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Evidence from meta-analyses of the facial width-to-height ratio as an evolved cue of threat
PLoS One, Vol.10(7), pp.1-18
2015
Abstract
The facial width-to-height ratio (FWHR) is the width of the face divided by the height of the upper face. There is mixed evidence for the hypothesis that the FWHR is a cue of threat and dominance in the human face. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses of all peer-reviewed studies (and 2 unpublished studies) to estimate the magnitude of the sex difference in the FWHR, and the magnitude of the relationship between the FWHR and threatening and dominant behaviours and perceptions. Studies were eligible for inclusion if the authors reported an analysis involving the FWHR. Our analyses revealed that the FWHR was larger in men than in women ( = .11, n = 10,853), cued judgements of masculinity in men ( = .35, n of faces = 487; n of observers = 339), and was related to body mass index ( = .31, n = 2,506). Further, the FWHR predicted both threat behaviour in men ( = .16, n = 4,603) and dominance behaviour in both sexes ( = .12, n = 948) across a variety of indices. Individuals with larger FWHRs were judged by observers as more threatening ( = .46, n of faces = 1,691; n of observers = 2,076) and more dominant ( = .20, n of faces = 603; n of observers = 236) than those with smaller FWHRs. Individuals with larger FWHRs were also judged as less attractive ( = -.26, n of faces = 721; n of observers = 335), especially when women made the judgements. These findings provide some support for the hypothesis that the FWHR is part of an evolved cueing system of intra-sexual threat and dominance in men. A limitation of the meta-analyses on perceptions of threat and dominance were the low number of stimuli involving female and older adult faces.
Details
- Title
- Evidence from meta-analyses of the facial width-to-height ratio as an evolved cue of threat
- Authors
- Shawn N Geniole (Author) - Brock UniversityThomas F Denson (Author) - UNSW AustraliaBarnaby J W Dixson (Author) - The University of QueenslandJustin M Carré (Author) - Nipissing UniversityCheryl M McCormick (Author) - Brock University
- Publication details
- PLoS One, Vol.10(7), pp.1-18
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Date published
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0132726
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- Copyright note
- © 2015 Geniole et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
- 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
- 99629736402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Behavioral Sciences