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Beards augment perceptions of men's age, social status, and aggressiveness, but not attractiveness

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  • Barnaby J. Dixson
  • Paul L. Vasey

Abstract

The beard is a strikingly sexually dimorphic androgen-dependent secondary sexual trait in humans. Darwin posited that beards evolved in human ancestors via female choice as a highly attractive masculine adornment. Others have since proposed that beards evolved as a signal of male status and dominance. Here, we show that women from two very different ethnic groups, Europeans from New Zealand and Polynesians from Samoa, do not rate bearded male faces as more attractive than clean-shaven faces. Women and men from both cultures judge bearded faces to be older and ascribe them higher social status than the same men when clean-shaven. Images of bearded men displaying an aggressive facial expression were also rated as significantly more aggressive than the same men when clean-shaven. Thus, the beard appears to augment the effectiveness of human aggressive facial displays. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the human beard evolved primarily via intrasexual selection between males and as part of complex facial communication signaling status and aggressiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Barnaby J. Dixson & Paul L. Vasey, 2012. "Beards augment perceptions of men's age, social status, and aggressiveness, but not attractiveness," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 23(3), pages 481-490.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:23:y:2012:i:3:p:481-490.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/arr214
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Markus J. Rantala & Mari Pölkki & Liisa M. Rantala, 2010. "Preference for human male body hair changes across the menstrual cycle and menopause," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 21(2), pages 419-423.
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    Cited by:

    1. Steven C. Hertler, 2015. "Toward a Biology of Collectivism," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(2), pages 21582440155, June.
    2. Borau, Sylvie & Bonnefon, Jean-François, 2020. "Gendered products act as the extended phenotype of human sexual dimorphism: They increase physical attractiveness and desirability," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 498-508.
    3. Ho Fai Chan & Ahmed Skali & David Stadelmann & Benno Torgler & Stephen Whyte, 2021. "Masculinity cues, perceptions of politician attributes, and political behavior," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(1), pages 148-171, March.
    4. Mittal, Sarah & Silvera, David H., 2021. "It grows on you: Perceptions of sales/service personnel with facial hair," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 604-613.
    5. Shawn N Geniole & Thomas F Denson & Barnaby J Dixson & Justin M Carré & Cheryl M McCormick, 2015. "Evidence from Meta-Analyses of the Facial Width-to-Height Ratio as an Evolved Cue of Threat," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Barnaby J. Dixson & Jamie C. Tam & Monica Awasthy, 2013. "Do women’s preferences for men’s facial hair change with reproductive status?," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 24(3), pages 708-716.

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    1. Barnaby J. Dixson & Jamie C. Tam & Monica Awasthy, 2013. "Do women’s preferences for men’s facial hair change with reproductive status?," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 24(3), pages 708-716.

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