Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7032
Title: Cross-cultural effects of color, but not morphological masculinity, on perceived attractiveness of men's faces
Authors: Stephen, ID
Scott, IML
Coetzee, V
Pound, N
Perrett, DI
Penton-Voak, IS
Keywords: Color;Masculinity;Attractiveness;Health;Face;Perception
Issue Date: 2012
Publisher: Elsevier
Citation: Evolution and Human Behavior, 33(4): 260 - 267, Jul 2012
Abstract: Much attractiveness research has focused on face shape. The role of masculinity (which for adults is thought to be a relatively stable shape cue to developmental testosterone levels) in male facial attractiveness has been examined, with mixed results. Recent work on the perception of skin color (a more variable cue to current health status) indicates that increased skin redness, yellowness, and lightness enhance apparent health. It has been suggested that stable cues such as masculinity may be less important to attractiveness judgments than short-term, more variable health cues. We examined associations between male facial attractiveness, masculinity, and skin color in African and Caucasian populations. Masculinity was not found to be associated with attractiveness in either ethnic group. However, skin color was found to be an important predictor of attractiveness judgments, particularly for own-ethnicity faces. Our results suggest that more plastic health cues, such as skin color, are more important than developmental cues such as masculinity. Further, unfamiliarity with natural skin color variation in other ethnic groups may limit observers' ability to utilize these color cues.
Description: This is the post-print version of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2012 Elsevier
URI: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090513811001103
http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7032
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2011.10.003
ISSN: 1090-5138
Appears in Collections:Psychology
Dept of Life Sciences Research Papers

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