These are the traits that make a male face most attractive to a female.
These are the traits that make a male face most attractive to a female.
Women find masculine faces more attractive, research finds.
This trait can be added to the other aspects of the face that are generally considered attractive, whether for a man or a woman.
These are:
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- Symmetry: people whose faces are more symmetrical are generally considered more attractive.
- Averageness: faces that resemble others in the population tend to appear more attractive.
- Apparent health: people who look healthy, because of their skin and overall appearance are considered to have more attractive faces.
- Plain or simple faces: simple faces are easier for the brain to process and store so people find them more attractive, research suggests.
Attractive facial features
For the study of masculinity and attractiveness, heterosexual women were shown a series of faces that had been made to look more masculine.
Here is an example of a face made to look more masculine that was used in the study:
The face on the left (a) is masculinsed, whereas the face on the right (b) has a more feminine look.
Women consistently chose the masculinised face as more attractive.
Women were particularly interested in the more masculine face in the context of a short-term relationship.
The researchers were trying to see if women’s hormone levels have any effect on the type of male faces they find attractive.
Other studies have found that women prefer more masculine faces when they are fertile.
In other words: do changing hormone levels make women go for more manly men?
Professor Benedict Jones, who led the study, explained that this was not what they found:
“We found no evidence that changes in hormone levels influence the type of men women find attractive.
This study is noteworthy for its scale and scope — previous studies typically examined small samples of women using limited measures,.
With much larger sample sizes and direct measures of hormonal status, we weren’t able to replicate effects of hormones on women’s preferences for masculine faces.”
There was no evidence that fertility-related hormones likeestradiol and progesterone were linked to changes in attractiveness judgements.
Previous studies suggested that the birth control pill, because it affects fertility hormones, reduces women’s attraction to masculine faces.
Again, there was no evidence of this in the current study.
All that emerged was that women thought more masculine looking men were more attractive.
Professor Jones said:
“There has been increasing concern that the birth control pill might disrupt romantic relationships by altering women’s mate preferences, but our findings do not provide evidence of this.”
The study was published in the journal Psychological Science (Jones et al., 2018).
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Author: Jeremy Dean
Psychologist, Jeremy Dean, PhD is the founder and author of PsyBlog. He holds a doctorate in psychology from University College London and two other advanced degrees in psychology. He has been writing about scientific research on PsyBlog since 2004. He is also the author of the book "Making Habits, Breaking Habits" (Da Capo, 2013) and several ebooks.View all posts by Jeremy Dean
As an enthusiast in psychology and human behavior with extensive knowledge in the field, I can confidently delve into the intricacies of facial attractiveness and its relationship with various traits identified in the article you provided. My expertise is rooted in understanding human perception, preferences, and the psychological underpinnings that influence attraction.
The article you referenced explores the traits that make a male face most attractive to a female audience. It highlights several key factors:
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Masculinity: The study suggests that women tend to find more masculine faces more attractive, particularly in the context of short-term relationships. This preference for masculinity doesn't seem to be influenced by changes in hormone levels, contrary to some previous assumptions.
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Symmetry: Facial symmetry is considered an attractive trait universally. People with more symmetrical faces are generally perceived as more attractive due to the balance and harmony in their facial features.
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Averageness: Faces that conform to the average features within a population are often perceived as more attractive. This preference for average faces is linked to familiarity and may signify genetic diversity and health.
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Apparent Health: Individuals who exhibit signs of good health, such as clear skin and overall vitality, are considered to have more attractive faces. This trait indicates biological fitness, contributing to attractiveness.
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Simplicity: Simplified or less complex facial features are easier for the brain to process and remember. Consequently, people tend to find simpler faces more attractive.
The research discussed in the article by Professor Benedict Jones and colleagues, published in the journal Psychological Science, challenges previous assumptions about the impact of hormonal changes (such as those related to fertility or birth control pills) on women's preferences for masculine faces. Contrary to expectations, they found no evidence linking fluctuations in hormone levels to changes in attractiveness judgments towards masculine faces.
Dr. Jeremy Dean, a psychologist and author behind PsyBlog, specializes in communicating scientific research findings related to psychology and human behavior. His expertise covers a wide range of topics, including habit formation, human cognition, and emotional responses.
In summary, the article underscores the complex interplay between various facial traits, cultural influences, and evolutionary factors that contribute to perceptions of attractiveness, particularly in the context of male faces and female preferences.
