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Facial features and unethical behavior – Doped athletes show higher facial width-to-height ratios than non-doping sanctioned athletes

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  • Bjoern Krenn
  • Callum Buehler

Abstract

Past research has emphasized the role of facial structures in predicting social behavior. In particular the facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) was found to be a reliable predictor for antisocial and unethical behavior. The current study was aimed at examining this association in the field of sports: FWHRs of 146 doping sanctioned athletes in athletics (37 male/38 female) and weightlifting (44 male/27 female) were compared to the fWHRs of randomly chosen non-doping sanctioned athletes of the Top Ten at the World Championship 2017 and Olympic Games 2016 in both sports (146 athletes). The results showed that doping sanctioned athletes due to the use of anabolic steroids had larger fWHRs than non-doping sanctioned athletes. However, doping sanctioned athletes due to other doping rule violations than the use of anabolic steroids, did not show this effect. The study provides empirical evidence for the relation between fWHR and unethical behavior in a real-world setting and contributes to the discussion about fWHR’s biological origin, emphasizing the role of anabolic steroids. A mutual interaction between fWHR and doping behavior is discussed, at which a larger fWHR might signify a higher tendency to behave unethically, whereas the consequential intake of anabolic steroids might also shape individuals’ faces.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0224472
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224472
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhixin Xie & Lionel Page & Ben Hardy, 2016. "Investigating gender differences under time pressure in financial risk taking," QuBE Working Papers 045, QUT Business School.
    2. 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.
    3. Michael P Haselhuhn & Margaret E Ormiston & Elaine M Wong, 2015. "Men’s Facial Width-to-Height Ratio Predicts Aggression: A Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-10, April.
    4. 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.
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