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Evidence from Meta-Analyses of the Facial Width-to-Height Ratio as an Evolved Cue of Threat

Author

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  • Shawn N Geniole
  • Thomas F Denson
  • Barnaby J Dixson
  • Justin M Carré
  • Cheryl M McCormick

Abstract

The facial width-to-height ratio (FWHR) is the width of the face divided by the height of the upper face. There is mixed evidence for the hypothesis that the FWHR is a cue of threat and dominance in the human face. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses of all peer-reviewed studies (and 2 unpublished studies) to estimate the magnitude of the sex difference in the FWHR, and the magnitude of the relationship between the FWHR and threatening and dominant behaviours and perceptions. Studies were eligible for inclusion if the authors reported an analysis involving the FWHR. Our analyses revealed that the FWHR was larger in men than in women (d¯ = .11, n = 10,853), cued judgements of masculinity in men (r¯ = .35, n of faces = 487; n of observers = 339), and was related to body mass index (r¯ = .31, n = 2,506). Further, the FWHR predicted both threat behaviour in men (r¯ = .16, n = 4,603) and dominance behaviour in both sexes (r¯ = .12, n = 948) across a variety of indices. Individuals with larger FWHRs were judged by observers as more threatening (r¯ = .46, n of faces = 1,691; n of observers = 2,076) and more dominant (r¯ = .20, n of faces = 603; n of observers = 236) than those with smaller FWHRs. Individuals with larger FWHRs were also judged as less attractive (r¯ = -.26, n of faces = 721; n of observers = 335), especially when women made the judgements. These findings provide some support for the hypothesis that the FWHR is part of an evolved cueing system of intra-sexual threat and dominance in men. A limitation of the meta-analyses on perceptions of threat and dominance were the low number of stimuli involving female and older adult faces.

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  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0132726
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132726
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
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    3. Ronnie Bryan & Pietro Perona & Ralph Adolphs, 2012. "Perspective Distortion from Interpersonal Distance Is an Implicit Visual Cue for Social Judgments of Faces," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(9), pages 1-9, September.
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    5. Ong, David, 2024. "College rank, facial characteristics, and personality traits in China and the US," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 369-387.
    6. Karin Wolffhechel & Amanda C Hahn & Hanne Jarmer & Claire I Fisher & Benedict C Jones & Lisa M DeBruine, 2015. "Testing the Utility of a Data-Driven Approach for Assessing BMI from Face Images," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(10), pages 1-10, October.
    7. Boris van Leeuwen & Charles N. Noussair & Theo Offerman & Sigrid Suetens & Matthijs van Veelen & Jeroen van de Ven, 2018. "Predictably Angry—Facial Cues Provide a Credible Signal of Destructive Behavior," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(7), pages 3352-3364, July.
    8. Feng, Guo & Zhuo, Jiayi & Hou, Fangzhuo & Yan, Shuo, 2024. "Judging a book by its cover: Fund investors’ physical attractiveness stereotypes and investor behavior," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    9. Weiqing Zhang & Amanda C Hahn & Ziyi Cai & Anthony J Lee & Iris J Holzleitner & Lisa M DeBruine & Benedict C Jones, 2018. "No evidence that facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) is associated with women's sexual desire," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-7, July.
    10. Zeyang Chen & Yu-Jane Liu & Juanjuan Meng & Zeng Wang, 2023. "What’s in a Face? An Experiment on Facial Information and Loan-Approval Decision," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(4), pages 2263-2283, April.
    11. Minehan, Shannon N. & Wesselbaum, Dennis, 2024. "Gender, personality, and performance," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    12. Bjoern Krenn & Callum Buehler, 2019. "Facial features and unethical behavior – Doped athletes show higher facial width-to-height ratios than non-doping sanctioned athletes," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(10), pages 1-9, October.

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