Facial width‐to‐height ratio predicts fighting success: A direct replication and extension of Zilioli et al. (2014)

Abstract

Zilioli et al. (2014) were the first to show an association between male facial width-toheight ratio (fWHR) and physical aggression and fighting ability in professional mixedmartial-arts fighters. Here, we re-examined this relationship by replicating (using all original measures) and extending (using 23 new variables related to fighting performance) Zilioli et al. (2014) in a statistically well-powered sample of 520 fighters using automatic and manual measures of the fWHR involving both eyelid and eyebrow landmarks, used interchangeably in previous reports (Studies 1-2). Most importantly, we successfully replicated Zilioli et al.'s (2014) central finding that fighters' fWHR, when manually calculated using the eyebrow landmark, predicted their fighting success (p = .004, controlling for body mass index and total fights). Consistent with past criticisms of using fight rather than fighter data to examine fighting success, which have argued that individual fights can be suddenly and unexpectedly determined and do not capture an individual's overall ability to succeed, Study 3 (N = 1367 fights) found no association between fWHR and singular victories. Studies 1-3 showed continual evidence that larger fWHRs were associated with grappling abilities, even after controlling for demographic and allometric factors. Strikingly, Study 3 discovered associations between all fWHR measures and grappling skill that remained robust before and after controlling for 17 different control variables. We discuss that grappling, or the act of taking down an opponent, involves a more aggressive, closecombat approach than does striking. Combined, these results offer additional support for the argument that fWHR may have been shaped by sexual selection.

A replication that requires replication: Commentary on Caton et al. (2022)

“…(2015) (Caton, Hannan, et al, 2022), and thus tangentially also of our previous work (Třebický et al, 2015) that tested the association between facial width-to-height ratio and fighting success (but cf. also a recent preprint by .…”

The face of getting over: Facial formidability informs expectations for the performance of male professional wrestlers.

“…Caton, Pearson, & Dixson, 2022). More specifically, these men are proficient grapplers (Caton, Hannan, & Dixson, 2022).…”

“…This allocation of status could similarly emerge from their success in combat sports. Professional wrestling began as actual contests from the remnants of folk-style wrestling (e.g., catch-as-catch can and Greco-Roman), which could have unsurprisingly seen formidably faced men having advantages (Caton, Hannan, & Dixson, 2022). As professional wrestling became scripted in the Early 20th Century, promoters could have used this understanding in scripting their shows to draw audiences based on who appeared to be more competent as a wrestler 1 .…”

The face of debt: Facial width-to-height ratios and regional debt in China

“…Facial width-to-height ratio (fWHr) has gained extensive attention as a putatively sexually-dimorphic trait, with numerous studies confirming the relationship between fWHr and individual behavior induced by psychological traits. Previous studies have revealed several fWHr-associated behaviors including risk-taking [ [1] , [2] , [3] ], aggression [ [4] , [5] , [6] ], dominance [ 7 , 8 ], aiming for success [ [9] , [10] , [11] ], antisocial behavior [ [12] , [13] , [14] ] and humanness [ 15 ], which have primarily focused on social and economic fields. However, there is not much research on whether fWHr is relevant to political decision-making, specifically, political risk-taking behaviors.…”