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Sexual orientation predicts men's preferences for sexually dimorphic face-shape characteristics: A replication study
Victor Shiramizu1, Ciaran Docherty1, Lisa M DeBruine1
1Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|November 13, 2020
Summary
Straight men prefer feminine female faces, aligning with evolutionary mate choice theories. Gay men, however, prefer masculine male faces, indicating sexual orientation influences mate preferences.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary psychology
- Human sexuality
- Facial morphology
Background:
- The adaptation-for-mate-choice hypothesis suggests men prefer feminine female faces for healthier offspring.
- Previous research has explored this, but direct comparisons between gay and straight men's preferences are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly replicate a previous study on men's face preferences across sexual orientations.
- To test the prediction that straight men show stronger preferences for feminized female faces than gay men.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale study comparing the facial preferences of 623 gay men and 3163 straight men.
- Participants rated feminized versus masculinized versions of female and male faces.
Main Results:
- Straight men exhibited significantly stronger preferences for feminized female faces compared to gay men.
- Gay men showed a significantly stronger preference for masculinized male faces than straight men.
Conclusions:
- Sexual orientation is a significant factor contributing to individual differences in men's facial preferences.
- Findings support the adaptation-for-mate-choice hypothesis for straight men's preferences.
- Results also align with previous research on gay men's preference for masculinity.
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