Contextual Factors that Heighten Interest in Coalitional Alliances with Men Possessing Formidable Facial Structures in the United States

Abstract

Individuals use facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) to infer dominance and fighting ability of others. We hypothesized that broad assessments of target formidability from fWHR would form a basis for determining men’s coalitional value, with high-fWHR men being especially valuable in roles requiring physical strength. Across five studies (N=1,445), we identified the social affordance of male facial structures connoting formidability and how judgments influence coalitional decisions. In addition to replicating previous findings indicating high-fWHR men are more desirable for tasks requiring physical strength, we found that such men are aversive for tasks requiring creativity (Studies 1 and 2). High-fWHR men were additionally perceived as more effective in combat roles in the military (Study 3). Finally, in two pre-registered studies, we found that activation of competitive motivations heightens individuals’ interest in formidable allies during intergroup interactions (Study 4), but not interest in approaching them (Study 5). We interpret findings using evolutionary and social affordance theories and discuss hypothesized ancestral origins of selecting formidable allies.

Contextual desirability of strong men employing affiliative and aggressive humor

“…Strong men were perceived as more extraverted and open to experiences. These results could reflect the dual signal value of men's strength as connoting an affiliative opportunity and an increased physical threat if conflict were to arise (Brown, Sacco, Barbaro, & Drea, 2022; Geniole & McCormick, 2013).…”

Covariation Between Formidability Inferences and Perceptions of Men’s Preferred Humor Styles

“…A strength advantage would have resulted in formidability inferences being critical in men's social selection to assume group roles. Strong men are recruited for intragroup rule enforcement and intergroup representation, with features diagnostic of formidability being the basis of choosing men for tasks requiring strength (Lukaszewski et al, 2016;Brown et al, 2021a). Despite an awareness of potential benefits for strong allies, formidability nonetheless presents costs to group living that is similarly salient to perceivers (Gordon et al, 2014).…”

Contextual Desirability of Strong Men Employing Affiliative and Aggressive Humor

“…Strong men were perceived as more extraverted and open to experiences. These results could reflect the dual signal value of men's strength as connoting an affiliative opportunity and an increased physical threat if conflict were to arise (Brown, Sacco, Barbaro, & Drea, 2022;Geniole & McCormick, 2013).…”

“…Despite the potential benefits of strong mates, several costs can emerge in LTM that result in women downregulating their interest in strength. Strong men are perceived as protective parents and mates that could afford security against interpersonal threats (Brown, Donahoe, & Boykin, 2022;Brown, Sacco, & Drea, 2022;Snyder et al, 2011). However, several competing inferences could undermine this desirability, as masculinized features could connote aggressive and promiscuous intent (Brown & Sacco, 2017;Brown, Tracy, & Boykin, 2022;Gallup et al, 2007;Geniole & McCormick, 2013;.…”

“…Physically strong bodies are more attractive than weak men, even using the same unique identity with different bodies (Lukaszewski et al, 2016). Future studies could employ targets that vary in facial width-toheight ratio (fWHR), a relatively sexually dimorphic facial feature connoting men's formidability (Caton et al, in press), with stimuli holding physical attractiveness constant (Brown, Sacco, Barbaro, & Drea, 2022). Recent findings suggest that men with formidable fWHRs are both more desirable in STM and perceived as especially aggressive (Durkee & Ayers, 2021;Valentine et al, 2014).…”