Women's preferences for men's facial masculinity are strongest under favorable ecological conditions

Citation

Marcinkowska UM, Rantala MJ, Lee AJ, Kozlov MV, Aavik T, Cai H, Contreras-Garduño J, David OA, Kaminski G, Li NP, Onyishi IE, Prasai K, Pazhoohi F, Prokop P & Rosales Cardozo SL (2019) Women's preferences for men's facial masculinity are strongest under favorable ecological conditions. Scientific Reports, 9, Art. No.: 3387. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39350-8

Abstract
The strength of sexual selection on secondary sexual traits varies depending on prevailing economic and ecological conditions. In humans, cross-cultural evidence suggesting women's preferences for men’s testosterone dependent masculine facial traits are stronger under conditions where health is compromised, male mortality rates are higher and economic development is higher. Here we use a sample of 4483 exclusively heterosexual women from 34 countries and employ mixed effects modelling to test how social, ecological and economic variables predict women’s facial masculinity preferences. We report women’s preferences for more masculine looking men are stronger in countries with higher sociosexuality and where national health indices and human development indices are higher, while no associations were found between preferences and indices of intra-sexual competition. Our results show that women’s preferences for masculine faces are stronger under conditions where offspring survival is higher and economic conditions more favorable.

Keywords
Facial attractiveness; facial masculinity; sexual selection; cross-cultural; mate preferences;

Notes
Additional co-authors: Nicolle Sydney, Hirokazu Taniguchi, Indrikis Krams & Barnaby J W Dixson

Journal
Scientific Reports: Volume 9

People

Dr Anthony Lee

Lecturer in Psychology, Psychology