Facial Structure Is a Reliable Cue of Aggressive Behavior

Abstract

Facial width-to-height ratio is a sexually dimorphic metric that is independent of body size and may have been shaped by sexual selection. We recently showed that this metric is correlated with behavioral aggression in men. In Study 1, observers estimated the propensity for aggression of men photographed displaying neutral facial expressions and for whom a behavioral measure of aggression was obtained. The estimates were correlated strongly with the facial width-to-height ratio of the stimulus faces and with the actual aggression of the men. These results were replicated in Study 2, in which the exposure to each stimulus face was shortened to 39 ms. Participants' estimates of aggression for each stimulus face were highly correlated between Study 2 (39-ms exposure) and Study 1 (2,000-ms exposure). These findings suggest that the facial width-to-height ratio may be a cue used to predict propensity for aggression in others.

Facial width-to-height ratio predicts self-reported dominance and aggression in males and females, but a measure of masculinity does not

“…Here, we show clear links between fWHR and self-reported aggression in both men and women as well as associations with dominance in men. Although previous work has demonstrated perceptual links between aggression and fWHR in women [3,4], this is the first study to show behavioural associations in females. The facial masculinity index was not related to either dominance or aggression, indicating that fWHR specifically, but not facial masculinity, is an indicator of dominant/aggressive behaviour.…”

“…The facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) has been proposed as a metric that cues aggression; faces with higher fWHR are perceived as more aggressive [3,4]. Whether fWHR also associates with actual aggression is less clear.…”

“…Additionally, almost no work to date has assessed whether there are links between facial appearance and aggression or dominance in women. Such links are conceivable, because increased aggression is perceived from both male and female high fWHR faces [3,4].…”

Further evidence for links between facial width‐to‐height ratio and fighting success: Commentary on Zilioli et al. (2014)

“…In particular, facial width to upper facial height ratio (fWHR) has been proposed as 25 a trait used in competitor assessment. fWHR has been associated with anti-social behaviour [1,2], 26 perceived aggressiveness [3,4] and aggressive behaviour [5,6], sport performance [7], strength [8], 27 and the probability of being killed in violent physical encounters [9] or during wartime [10]. It was 28 initially proposed that fWHR is a sexually dimorphic trait [11], although this has not been confirmed in 29 subsequent studies [12,13].…”

Identifying personality from the static, nonexpressive face in humans and chimpanzees: evidence of a shared system for signaling personality

“…Many socially-relevant traits can be accurately identified in humans solely from visible cues in the static, non-expressive face, including personality (Kramer & Ward, 2010;Little & Perrett, 2007), sociosexuality (Boothroyd, Jones, Burt, DeBruine & Perrett, 2008), trustworthiness (Stirrat & Perrett, 2010), and aggression (Carré, McCormick & Mondloch, 2009). Interpreting these results within animal signalling theory suggests a close association between the facial morphology and behaviour of the signal "sender", and the cognitive processes for understanding the signal in the "receiver" (Maynard-Smith & Harper, 2003).…”