TY - JOUR
T1 - Women's preferences for sexual dimorphism in faces
T2 - data from a sample of Arab women
AU - Alharbi, Sarah A.H.
AU - Holzleitner, Iris J.
AU - Lee, Anthony J.
AU - Saribay, S. Adil
AU - Jones, Benedict C.
PY - 2020/12/30
Y1 - 2020/12/30
N2 - Many previous studies have investigated the effects of manipulating sexually dimorphic shape characteristics in face images on attractiveness judgments. However, results have been mixed and show considerable cross-cultural variability, particularly for women’s judgments of men’s facial attractiveness. Because very little research has investigated face preferences in Arab samples, we assessed Arab women’s preferences for sexually dimorphic face shapes (study 1) and the effect of sexually dimorphic face shapes on Arab women’s dominance perceptions (study 2). Analyses showed that Arab women preferred feminized versions of both women’s and men’s faces over masculinized versions (study 1, N = 272) and that masculinizing face shape had a positive effect on Arab women’s perceptions of the dominance of men, but not women (study 2, N = 270). These image manipulations did not have a significant effect on perceptions of trustworthiness, however (study 3, N = 434). Collectively, these results suggest that Arab women prefer relatively feminine face shapes in potential mates that they perceive as being low dominance. We discuss some directions for future research on the ultimate function of Arab women’s preferences for sexual dimorphism in faces
AB - Many previous studies have investigated the effects of manipulating sexually dimorphic shape characteristics in face images on attractiveness judgments. However, results have been mixed and show considerable cross-cultural variability, particularly for women’s judgments of men’s facial attractiveness. Because very little research has investigated face preferences in Arab samples, we assessed Arab women’s preferences for sexually dimorphic face shapes (study 1) and the effect of sexually dimorphic face shapes on Arab women’s dominance perceptions (study 2). Analyses showed that Arab women preferred feminized versions of both women’s and men’s faces over masculinized versions (study 1, N = 272) and that masculinizing face shape had a positive effect on Arab women’s perceptions of the dominance of men, but not women (study 2, N = 270). These image manipulations did not have a significant effect on perceptions of trustworthiness, however (study 3, N = 434). Collectively, these results suggest that Arab women prefer relatively feminine face shapes in potential mates that they perceive as being low dominance. We discuss some directions for future research on the ultimate function of Arab women’s preferences for sexual dimorphism in faces
KW - attractiveness
KW - culture
KW - faces
KW - mate preferences
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102310803&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s40806-020-00244-y
DO - 10.1007/s40806-020-00244-y
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85102310803
VL - 6
SP - 328
EP - 334
JO - Evolutionary Psychological Science
JF - Evolutionary Psychological Science
IS - 4
ER -