Self-Fulfilling Prophecies as a Link between Men’s Facial Width-to-Height Ratio and Behavior

Abstract

The facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) has been identified as a reliable predictor of men’s behavior, with researchers focusing on evolutionary selection pressures as the underlying mechanism explaining these relationships. In this paper, we complement this approach and examine the extent to which social processes also determine the extent to which men’s fWHR serves as a behavioral cue. Specifically, we propose that observers’ treatment of target men based on the targets’ fWHR subsequently affects behavior, leading the targets to behave in ways that are consistent with the observers’ expectations (i.e., a self-fulfilling prophecy). Results from four studies demonstrate that individuals behave more selfishly when interacting with men with greater fWHRs, and this selfish behavior, in turn, elicits selfish behavior in others.

Response: Commentary: Facial Width-to-Height Ratio (fWHR) Is Not Associated with Adolescent Testosterone Levels

“…There are also as many as seven alternative hypotheses that have been presented to explain the fWHR association with T (see research and discussion by Haselhuhn et al, 2013; Hehman et al, 2015; Whitehouse et al, 2015; Zebrowitz et al, 2015; Eisenbruch et al, 2017; Kramer, 2017). One hypothesis that has been under-examined thus far is that the fWHR-behavior relationships are a byproduct of the association between fWHR and other relevant traits.…”

Face shape and behavior: Implications of similarities in infants and adults

“…Similarly, research reveals that the positive relationship between FWHR and aggression is moderated by objective and subjective measures of social status, with a significant relationship only for men with relatively low status (Goetz, Shattuck, Miller, Campbell, Lozoya, Weisfeld, & Carre, 2013). There is also evidence that self-fulfilling prophecy effects may contribute to less pro-social behavior in men with a higher FWHR (Haselhuhn, Wong, & Ormiston, 2013). Furthermore, sex-role socialization may contribute to the fact that, with one exception (Lefevre, Etchells, Howell, Clark, & Penton-Voak, 2014), a relationship between FWHR or babyfaceness and aggressive or assertive behavior is more reliable for men than women (Carre & McCormick, 2008; Geniole, Keyes, Carre, & McCormick, 2014; Mileva et al, 2014; Zebrowitz et al, 1998), with these results leading many researchers to study only men.…”

An Examination of the Associations Between Facial Structure, Aggressive Behavior, and Performance in the 2010 World Cup Association Football Players

“…Multiple studies have demonstrated that FWHR is related to personality judgments made by others (e.g., Carré et al 2009;Haselhuhn, Wong, and Ormiston, 2013;Stirrat and Perrett 2010) thus it is plausible that a referee's judgment could have been influenced by this bias. However, this argument does not apply to the relationship found between FWHR and goals scored since referee judgment is minimally involved.…”