Young, formidable men show greater sensitivity to facial cues of dominance

Bibliographic Data

ID21651134
AuthorsThomas Richardson (0000-0003-0349-0095, University of Manchester, corresponding author), Matthew Waddington (0000-0002-2396-5417, University of Manchester), Robert Tucker Gilman (0000-0003-2000-7966, University of Manchester)
Year2021
Volume42
Issue1
Pages43-50
Publication date2021-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEvolution and Human Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1090-5138 • E-ISSN: 1879-0607
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.07.004
OpenAlexW3042986102
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited75

There is considerable evidence that human male faces contain honest, detectable cues to their physical dominance, which are related to their objective facial masculinity. As such, some have argued that the extent to which observers' rate masculinised male faces as appearing more physically dominant is a useful measure of their ability to detect cues of dominance and threat in other men. We found across 3 studies (total n = 272) that younger, taller, and stronger men showed greater sensitivity to facial cues of dominance. Additionally, participants were more likely to associate younger than older masculinised faces with physical dominance. Self-perceived social dominance did not moderate perceptions. These results contrast with previous work which found that shorter, less socially dominant men had greater ability to detect facial cues of dominance. We propose the hypothesis that younger, more formidable males show greater sensitivity to facial cues of dominance as they are more likely to engage in violent intrasexual competition

Biology · Developmental psychology · Face perception · Masculinity · Perception · Consumer Behavior in Brand Consumption and Identification · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social Psychology

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