Journal article
Negative frequency-dependent preferences and variation in male facial hair
Biology Letters, Vol.10(4), pp.20130958-20130958
2014
PMCID: PMC4013690
PMID: 24740903
Abstract
Negative frequency-dependent sexual selection maintains striking polymorphisms in secondary sexual traits in several animal species. Here, we test whether frequency of beardedness modulates perceived attractiveness of men's facial hair, a secondary sexual trait subject to considerable cultural variation. We first showed participants a suite of faces, within which we manipulated the frequency of beard thicknesses and then measured preferences for four standard levels of beardedness. Women and men judged heavy stubble and full beards more attractive when presented in treatments where beards were rare than when they were common, with intermediate preferences when intermediate frequencies of beardedness were presented. Likewise, clean-shaven faces were least attractive when clean-shaven faces were most common and more attractive when rare. This pattern in preferences is consistent with negative frequency-dependent selection.
Details
- Title
- Negative frequency-dependent preferences and variation in male facial hair
- Authors
- Zinnia J Janif (Author) - UNSW AustraliaRobert C Brooks (Author) - UNSW AustraliaBarnaby J W Dixson (Author) - UNSW Australia
- Publication details
- Biology Letters, Vol.10(4), pp.20130958-20130958
- Publisher
- The Royal Society Publishing
- DOI
- 10.1098/rsbl.2013.0958
- ISSN
- 1744-957X
- PMID
- 24740903; PMC4013690
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99629736102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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