The Influence of Facial Hair on Impression Formation

Reed, J. Ann Pinaire; Blunk, Elizabeth M.

doi:10.2224/sbp.1990.18.1.169

Cited by 45 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In order to modify one specific feature of a face on a photo while leaving the other features intact, researchers have retouched photos [CARELLO et al 1989] and computer images [LAENG et al 2007], drawn stubble on models [MUSCARELLA and CUNNINGHAM 1996], or used drawings of faces with definite features in place of photos MCARTHUR 1986, REED andBLUNK 1990]. Judges have been allowed to portray their conception of the most attractive face by using sticks to form the face [HERSHON and GIDDON 1980], moving disks to denote eyes and lips [FRĄC-KIEWICZ 2001], or even employing a system of hinged telescopic pipes [SERGL et al 1998].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies found a positive correlation [PELLEGRINI 1973, PAN-CER and MEINDL 1978, HATFIELD 1986, REED and BLUNK 1990, HELLSTRÖM and TEKLE 1994 while others found a negative correlation [FEINMAN and GILL 1977, CUNNINGHAM et al 1990, WO-GALTER and HOSIE 1991, MUSCARELLA and CUNNINGHAM 1996. Nevertheless, there is general agreement that men with beards are perceived as older, more mature, manly, dominant, aggressive and threatening [CUNNINGHAM et al 1990, REED and BLUNK 1990, WOGALTER and HOSIE 1991, BARBER 1995, MUSCA-RELLA and CUNNINGHAM 1996. Because a beard accentuates the lower part of the face, men with beards are perceived as more masculine, just as are men with large jaws and chins.…”

Section: Other Determinants Of Facial Attractivenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Facial attractiveness: General patterns of facial preferences

Kościński

2007

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This review covers universal patterns in facial preferences. Facial attractiveness has fascinated thinkers since antiquity, but has been the subject of intense scientific study for only the last quarter of a century. Many facial features contribute to facial attractiveness: Averageness and symmetry are preferred by males and females, probably because they signal genetic quality and developmental stability. Men prefer highly feminized female faces because they reflect high estrogen levels and low testosterone levels. This indicates that the woman is reproductively healthy. Women, on the other hand, prefer a moderate level of male facial masculinity, since facial masculinity that is too pronounced signals high level of testosterone and, thereby, a poorly developed pro-family personality. In women, facial hair is detrimental to facial attractiveness. In men, the effect is not consistent. Faces with a clear complexion are attractive to both men and women. Men prefer light and smooth skin in women. Positive facial expressions also enhance facial attractiveness. Many factors, in particular skin condition and facial proportions, affect perceived age, which is an important component of facial attractiveness. Men in particular strongly prefer youthful-looking female faces. Facial preferences enable an individual to recognize reproductively fit mates. Therefore, facial preferences are adaptive, although non-adaptive mechanisms related to general brain function also play a role. KEY WORDS: physical attractiveness, facial esthetics, human face, beauty Everything is in the face CiceroFacial attractiveness is something that is intuitively perceived rather than measurable with instruments. Until recently, facial attractiveness was more a subject of interest for artists and philosophers than for scientists. However, physical attractiveness has proven to have such serious interpersonal and social consequences that science cannot exclude it from its realm of study. Moreover, scientific research on physical attractiveness is justified because it is connected to the

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Other Determinants Of Facial Attractivenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facial attractiveness: General patterns of facial preferences

Kościński

2007

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“…Wearing a beard tends to increase judgments of qualities usually attributed to men, such as masculinity, aggressiveness, dominance, strength, and self-confidence (Addison, 1989;Kenny and Fletcher, 1973;Pancer and Meindl, 1978;Pellegrini, 1973;Reed and Blunk, 1990;Roll and Verinis, 1971). In a study by Wood (1986), putting on a false beard and taking a look in the mmor increased self-perceived masculinity Freedman (1969) hypothesized that beardedness was adaptive in human evolution, and suggested that 'beards make men more appealing to women and perhaps help love to blossom.…”

Section: General Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Person perception through facial photographs: Effects of glasses, hair, and beard on judgments of occupation and personal qualities

Hellström

Tekle

1994

Euro J Social Psych

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“…Likewise, female preferences for facial hair, a sexually dimorphic trait, are highly variable (B. J. W. Dixson & Brooks, 2013; B. J. W. ; B. J. W. Dixson & Vasey, 2012;Feinman & Gill, 1977;Janif, Brooks, & Dixson, 2014;Muscarella & Cunningham, 1996;Pellegrini, 1973;Reed & Blunk, 1990;Wogalter & Hosie, 1991).…”

Section: The Darwinian Paradox Of Individual Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Likewise, beardedness enhances men's attractiveness to women in some studies (B. J. W. Janif et al, 2014;Pellegrini, 1973;Reed & Blunk, 1990) but not in others (B. J. W. Dixson, Tam, & Awasthy, 2013; B. J. W. Dixson & Vasey, 2012;Feinman & Gill, 1977;Muscarella & Cunningham, 1996;Wogalter & Hosie, 1991), while in other cases preferences between clean-shaven faces and those with full beards are more equivocal (B. J. W. Dixson & Brooks, 2013;Neave & Shields, 2008;Saxton, Mackey, McCarty, & Neave, 2016). Even within traits for which women typically state strong preferences, such as deeper vocal pitch and muscularity (B. J. W. Dixson, Grimshaw, Ormsby, & Dixson, 2014;Frederick & Haselton, 2007), effect sizes for ratings of dominance tend to be greater than those for attractiveness (Puts, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Testing Evolutionary Hypotheses Regarding Individual Differences in Human Mating Strategies

Sherlock¹

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Finding and attracting a mate is an enormous component of human life, and indeed the life of all sexually reproducing organisms. In this search, we share many common goals in attaining a partner. For instance, most people typically seek a partner who is kind, attractive, and funny. Yet, we also differ remarkably in the traits that we desire in our partners and what drives us towards choosing some mates over others. This variation represents somewhat of a Darwinian paradox, as selection typically reduces variation in traits under strong selection, such as those relating to mating strategy. To resolve this paradox, evolutionary psychologists have proposed adaptive mechanisms that cause variation in mating strategy in response to environmental contingencies. In this thesis, I present tests of a number of these hypotheses, and integrate approaches from evolutionary behavioural genetics to provide alternative explanations as to how variation in mating strategy arises.Firstly, I review broad evolutionary approaches to explaining variation in psychological traits. Specifically, I introduce evolutionary literature regarding a proposed trade-off between parenting traits and signals of genetic quality in males that permeates approaches to various aspects of mate choice. Evidence for and against this trade-off is reviewed in the context of the maintenance of variation in facial masculinity in males and inter-partner variation in female orgasm frequency during penetrative sex. I then introduce behavioural genetics as an approach to understanding both genetic and environmental causes of variation in human mating strategy.In my first empirical study, I present a paper testing evolutionary hypotheses regarding female variation in orgasm frequency in response to male characteristics. Where previous research has focused on women reporting on a single partner and observing male characteristics across the sample, this paper had females report on partners with whom orgasm was easy and with whom orgasm was difficult. This controls for the possibility of confounds relating to between-subject studies and increases our power to detect male traits associated with orgasm over and above between women differences. Furthermore, the study also included measures of male sexual behaviour, as these are highly likely to be related to female orgasmability. We showed mixed support for evolutionary theories regarding variation in the female orgasm, but were unable to distinguish the two leading hypotheses. Additionally, we found important contributions of male sexual behaviour to female orgasm. Consequently, little can be inferred about the role of variation in the evolution of the female orgasm. However, we demonstrate that within-subjects designs are able to detect between-partner variance with high resolution. We also demonstrate that future studies need account for male sexual behaviour when attempting to explain adaptive variation in female orgasm between different male partners.ii I then present a paper providing evidence that facial ...

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The Influence of Facial Hair on Impression Formation

Cited by 45 publications

References 13 publications

Facial attractiveness: General patterns of facial preferences

Facial attractiveness: General patterns of facial preferences

Person perception through facial photographs: Effects of glasses, hair, and beard on judgments of occupation and personal qualities

Testing Evolutionary Hypotheses Regarding Individual Differences in Human Mating Strategies

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