The pattern of facial preferences in boys at early adolescence

Abstract

Research on facial attractiveness has become very popular in past few decades and the psychoevolutionary perspective has recently gained a good measure of scientific currency. This perspective assumes that many of the criteria for facial preferences have been molded by natural selection so that the pursuit of and contact with individuals perceived as attractive is beneficial for one's reproductive success [Symons 1995, Gangestad & Scheyd 2005, Rhodes 2006]. It is no wonder then that facial preferences are, to a great extent, universal [Langlois et al. 2000]. Facial attractiveness is a reliable signal of possession of good genes, good health and desirable personality, and physically attractive people enjoy, on average, more popularity, and have better reproductive success than less attractive ones (see review by Kościński [2008]). Although attractiveness perception in adults has been extensively studied, the development of facial preferences in childhood and adolescence remains poorly represented. ABSTRACT Despite numerous studies on perception of facial attractiveness in adults, preferences in adolescents remain poorly characterized. The aim of present study was to explore facial preferences in boys at early adolescence (11-13 years old) and compare them with preferences of men. All males evaluated the same 30 female faces, which were also assessed by independent judges for several perceived features. Regardless of age, boys assessed attractiveness much the same as men, and the strengths of their preferences for specific facial features were similar to those of men. The pubertal maturity (calculated on the basis of the presence of pubic hair at two sessions spaced ten months apart) correlated positively with strength of preference for several facial features (specifically: maturity, sexiness, marital appearance and friendly appearance). This remained true even after controlling for age and psychosexual development, suggesting that sex hormones are involved in the development of facial preferences in pubescent boys.

Mate Preferences Across the Lifespan

“…For instance, earlier first menses is associated with earlier first coitus (e.g., Downing & Bellis, 2009;Udry 1979) and given the sex difference in age of puberty those early relationships are likely to be with older males. Related to this, Kościński (2010) found that boys' sexual experience predicted similar patterns of face preferences as their pubertal development, highlighting the impact experience may have.…”

“…In fact, although overall means for femininity and symmetry preferences increased with age, preferences for averageness decreased. Correspondingly, Kościński (2010Kościński ( , 2011Kościński ( , 2013 found a similar pattern of means in strength of preference for skin health in girls and boys aged between 11 and 14 years. In the only longitudinal data on facial preferences we are aware of, Saxton et al (2011) were unable to document any clear changes in adolescent's facial preferences over a 1 year period, although in a later study on voices it was observed that 11-and 13-year olds showed a drop in voice pitch preference over a 9-12 month period (Saxton et al, 2013; see also Saxton et al, 2009 for similar cross-sectional patterns in voice pitch preference).…”

“…To our knowledge, these traits above are the only widely recognized specific preferences that have been investigated from a developmental perspective, although Kościński (2010Kościński ( , 2011Kościński ( , 2013 has also considered the extent to which children prefer faces that adults have rated on other non-physical characteristics (e.g., friendliness, sexy appearance). Preferences for the facial, vocal, and body traits discussed above have also been the focus of research into endocrine influences on mate choice among adults of reproductive age.…”