Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1002-1009 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Ethology |
| Volume | 121 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2015 |
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Head-tilt and fertility contribute to different aspects of female facial attractiveness. / Sulikowski, Danielle; Burke, Darren; Havlicek, Jan; Roberts, S. Craig.
In: Ethology, Vol. 121, No. 10, 10.2015, p. 1002-1009.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Head-tilt and fertility contribute to different aspects of female facial attractiveness
AU - Sulikowski, Danielle
AU - Burke, Darren
AU - Havlicek, Jan
AU - Roberts, S. Craig
N1 - Includes bibliographical references.
PY - 2015/10
Y1 - 2015/10
N2 - Subjective attractiveness ratings of facial portraits of women taken at the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle are higher than those of portraits of the same women taken during non-fertile periods. As female faces tilted downward are rated as more attractive and female courtship behaviours change across the menstrual cycle, we investigated whether systematic downward tilt of women's faces during the fertile phase might be responsible for increased attractiveness ratings. In the original study (Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B, 271, 2004, S272), the fertile-phase portrait of each woman was deemed more attractive in 56-62% of cases. When the portraits were reclassified by head pitch, the more downward-tilted portrait was preferred in 64-73% of cases. The fertile-phase portrait was no more likely to be the downward-tilted one, however, suggesting that effects of fertility on attractiveness are not simply due to changes in head position. We also had these portraits rated (N = 130) for physical attractiveness and behavioural allure. Fertile-phase portraits were rated as more physically attractive than non-fertile portraits, while more downward-tilted portraits were rated as more behaviourally alluring than less downward-tilted ones. These data not only confirm reported effects of head tilt and fertility on perceived female attractiveness, but also suggest that these factors influence different components of the attractiveness percept.
AB - Subjective attractiveness ratings of facial portraits of women taken at the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle are higher than those of portraits of the same women taken during non-fertile periods. As female faces tilted downward are rated as more attractive and female courtship behaviours change across the menstrual cycle, we investigated whether systematic downward tilt of women's faces during the fertile phase might be responsible for increased attractiveness ratings. In the original study (Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B, 271, 2004, S272), the fertile-phase portrait of each woman was deemed more attractive in 56-62% of cases. When the portraits were reclassified by head pitch, the more downward-tilted portrait was preferred in 64-73% of cases. The fertile-phase portrait was no more likely to be the downward-tilted one, however, suggesting that effects of fertility on attractiveness are not simply due to changes in head position. We also had these portraits rated (N = 130) for physical attractiveness and behavioural allure. Fertile-phase portraits were rated as more physically attractive than non-fertile portraits, while more downward-tilted portraits were rated as more behaviourally alluring than less downward-tilted ones. These data not only confirm reported effects of head tilt and fertility on perceived female attractiveness, but also suggest that these factors influence different components of the attractiveness percept.
KW - Face attractiveness
KW - Fertility
KW - Head tilt
KW - Menstrual cycle
U2 - 10.1111/eth.12412
DO - 10.1111/eth.12412
M3 - Article
VL - 121
SP - 1002
EP - 1009
JO - Zeitschrift fur Tierpsychologie
JF - Zeitschrift fur Tierpsychologie
SN - 0179-1613
IS - 10
ER -