Symmetry is related to sexual dimorphism in faces: data across culture and species.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many animals both display and assess multiple signals. Two prominently studied traits are symmetry and sexual dimorphism, which, for many animals, are proposed cues to heritable fitness benefits. These traits are associated with other potential benefits, such as fertility. In humans, the face has been extensively studied in terms of attractiveness. Faces have the potential to be advertisements of mate quality and both symmetry and sexual dimorphism have been linked to the attractiveness of human face shape.

Methodology/principal findings

Here we show that measurements of symmetry and sexual dimorphism from faces are related in humans, both in Europeans and African hunter-gatherers, and in a non-human primate. Using human judges, symmetry measurements were also rel

SUBMITTER: Little AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2329856 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature