Correlations between spatial skills: A test of the hunter-gatherer hypothesis

Abstract

Most studies of female facial masculinity preference have relied upon self-reported preference, with participants selecting or rating the attractiveness of faces that differ in masculinity. However, researchers have not established a consensus as to whether women's general preference is for male faces that are masculine or feminine, and several studies have indicated that women prefer neither. We investigated women's preferences for male facial masculinity using standard two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) preference trials, paired with eye tracking measures, to determine whether conscious and non-conscious measures of preference yield similar results. We found that women expressed a preference for, gazed longer at, and fixated more frequently on feminized male faces. We also found effects of relationship status, relationship context (whether faced are judged for attractiveness as a long- or short-term partner), and hormonal contraceptive use. These results support previous findings that women express a preference for feminized over masculinized male faces, demonstrate that non-conscious measures of preference for this trait echo consciously expressed preferences, and suggest that certain aspects of the preference decision-making process may be better captured by eye tracking than by 2AFC preference trials.

A Comparison of Masculinity Facial Preference Among Naturally Cycling, Pregnant, Lactating, and Post-Menopausal Women

“…On the other hand, less masculine men can be judged attractive due to their perceived amenableness to women and look like providers who invest in their offspring (Dixson, Tam, & Awasthy, 2013 ). Until now, there is no agreement on whether women prefer more feminine or more masculine men, or show enhanced preference for either (Burriss, Marcinkowska, & Lyons, 2014 ; Perrett et al, 1998 ; Peters, Simmons, & Rhodes, 2008 ; Zietsch, Lee, Sherlock, & Jern, 2015 ). It is now clear, however, that there is no stable, common preference shared by all women throughout their lifetimes.…”

Effects of estrogen on spatial navigation and memory

“… 2019 ; Hughes et al. 2014 ), though no simple, clear strategy differences between the sexes have also been reported on a virtual T-maze where both sexes evolved in strategy preferences with training, and eventually male participants in the study preferred allocentric navigation while female participants on average showed no preference (Astur et al. 2016 ).…”

“…4 D; Bell and Saucier 2004 ; Hughes et al. 2014 ; Lawton and Morrin 1999 ; Nazareth et al. 2019 , but cf.…”

Using video games to understand sex differences in attentional biases for weapons

“…Men also exhibit a stronger attentional bias for weapons than do women [9], and this effect is stronger when the weapons are depicted wielded [15]. While there is much evidence for sex differences in other cognitive domains [38][39][40][41], there remains only the two reports of sex differences in attentional bias for weapons. As such we know little about the functional implications of this sex difference men's and women's responses to weapons.…”