The Influence of Body Composition Effects on Male Facial Masculinity and Attractiveness.

ABSTRACT: Body mass index (BMI) and its facial correlates influence a range of perceptions including masculinity and attractiveness. BMI conflates body fat and muscle which are sexually dimorphic because men typically have more muscle but less fat than women. We therefore investigated the influence of facial correlates of body composition (fat mass and muscle mass) on the perception of masculinity in male faces. Women have been found to prefer more masculine looking men when considering short-term relationships compared with long-term relationships. We therefore conducted a second study of heterosexual women's preferences for facial correlates of fat and muscle mass under long and short relationship contexts. We digitally transformed face shape simulating the effects of raised and lowered levels of

SUBMITTER: Lei X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6328455 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature