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Facial width-to-height ratio predicts fighting success- A direct replication and extension of Zilioli et al. (2014)919.53 kB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Facial width-to-height ratio predicts fighting success: A direct replication and extension of Zilioli et al. (2014)
Aggressive Behavior, Vol.48(5), pp.449-465
2022
PMID: 35262921
Abstract
Zilioli et al. (2014) were the first to show an association between male facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) and physical aggression and fighting ability in professional mixed-martial-arts fighters. Here, we re-examined this relationship by replicating (using all original measures) and extending (using 23 new variables related to fighting performance) Zilioli et al. (2014) in a statistically well-powered sample of 520 fighters using automatic and manual measures of the fWHR involving both eyelid and eyebrow landmarks, used interchangeably in previous reports (Studies 1-2). Most importantly, we successfully replicated Zilioli et al.'s (2014) central finding that fighters' fWHR, when manually calculated using the eyebrow landmark, predicted their fighting success (p = .004, controlling for body mass index and total fights). Consistent with past criticisms of using fight rather than fighter data to examine fighting success, which have argued that individual fights can be suddenly and unexpectedly determined and do not capture an individual's overall ability to succeed, Study 3 (N = 1367 fights) found no association between fWHR and singular victories. Studies 1-3 showed continual evidence that larger fWHRs were associated with grappling abilities, even after controlling for demographic and allometric factors. Strikingly, Study 3 discovered associations between all fWHR measures and grappling skill that remained robust before and after controlling for 17 different control variables. We discuss that grappling, or the act of taking down an opponent, involves a more aggressive, close-combat approach than does striking. Combined, these results offer additional support for the argument that fWHR may have been shaped by sexual selection.
Details
- Title
- Facial width-to-height ratio predicts fighting success: A direct replication and extension of Zilioli et al. (2014)
- Authors
- Neil R Caton (Corresponding Author) - The University of QueenslandJohn Hannan (Author) - The University of QueenslandBarnaby J W Dixson (Author) - The University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Aggressive Behavior, Vol.48(5), pp.449-465
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Date published
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.1002/ab.22027
- ISSN
- 1098-2337; 0096-140X
- PMID
- 35262921
- Copyright note
- © 2022 The Authors. Aggressive Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- 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
- 99621008902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Web Of Science research areas
- Behavioral Sciences
- Psychology, Multidisciplinary