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Male Facial Appearance and Offspring Mortality in Two Traditional Societies.
Lynda G Boothroyd1, Alan W Gray1, Thomas N Headland2
1Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|January 13, 2017
Summary
Facial masculinity in fathers is linked to child survival, with intermediate levels showing the lowest mortality. Attractiveness did not affect offspring survival or fertility in these traditional societies.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Human reproductive ecology
- Anthropology
Background:
- Female mate choice may favor male traits indicating genetic quality, potentially enhancing offspring health.
- Previous research has not empirically tested the link between paternal facial features and offspring health in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between paternal facial masculinity and attractiveness and offspring survival and fertility in two traditional societies.
- To test hypotheses regarding female preferences for male facial traits and their impact on offspring viability.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of offspring number and survival data from the Agta (Philippines) and Maya (Belize) populations.
- Assessment of archived facial photographs for perceived masculinity and attractiveness by observers.
- Statistical analysis to determine associations between facial traits, fertility, and offspring survival.
Main Results:
- No association was found between facial attractiveness and offspring survival or fertility.
- A quadratic relationship between paternal facial masculinity and offspring survival was observed in both populations.
- Intermediate masculinity levels were linked to lower offspring mortality, while extreme levels (high or low) were associated with increased mortality.
Conclusions:
- Paternal facial masculinity, but not attractiveness, may influence offspring survival in traditional populations.
- The findings suggest a complex, non-linear relationship between male facial traits and offspring health outcomes.
- Further research and replication in diverse traditional societies are crucial to understand the evolutionary significance of these facial trait associations.
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