Genetic factors that increase male facial masculinity decrease facial attractiveness of female relatives.
Anthony J Lee1, Dorian G Mitchem, Margaret J Wright
11School of Psychology, University of Queensland.
Psychological Science
|January 1, 2014
Summary
Facially masculine men may not offer genetic benefits to offspring. Their facial masculinity is not linked to attractiveness and is associated with less-attractive sisters, challenging evolutionary theories.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary psychology
- Behavioral genetics
- Human mating behavior
Background:
- The hypothesis that women benefit genetically from mating with facially masculine men is popular.
- Key assumptions of this hypothesis, including genetic underpinnings and inheritance patterns, remain untested.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the assumptions of the genetic benefits of facial masculinity hypothesis.
- To investigate the genetic basis of facial masculinity in males and females.
- To examine the relationship between male facial masculinity, attractiveness, and female relatives' facial masculinity.
Main Methods:
- Objective quantification of facial masculinity from photographs.
- Analysis of identical and non-identical twins and their siblings.
- Biometrical modeling to assess genetic and environmental influences on facial masculinity.
Main Results:
- Significant genetic variation underlies both male and female facial masculinity.
- Male facial masculinity was not correlated with attractiveness.
- Facially masculine men had sisters who were also facially masculine but less attractive.
Conclusions:
- The genetic correlation between male and female facial masculinity may not confer net benefits.
- Findings challenge the widely accepted evolutionary framework of genetic benefits from mating with facially masculine males.
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