Voice pitch alters mate-choice-relevant perception in hunter-gatherers.

ABSTRACT: In humans, voice pitch is thought to be a cue of underlying quality and an important criterion for mate choice, but data from non-Western cultures have not been provided. Here we test attributions to and preferences for voices with raised and lowered pitch in hunter-gatherers. Using a forced-choice playback experiment, we found that both men and women viewed lower pitched voices in the opposite sex as being better at acquiring resources (e.g. hunting and gathering). While men preferred higher pitched women's voices as marriage partners, women showed no overall preference for voice pitch in men. However, women who were currently breastfeeding had stronger preferences for higher pitched male voices whereas women not currently breastfeeding preferred lower pitched voices. As testosterone is c

SUBMITTER: Apicella CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2679070 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature