RESUMO
Both facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) and body mass index (BMI) have been associated with aggressive behavior in women but how they influence perception of their potential threat remain unclear. Here, we assessed the effects of fWHR and BMI on perceived formidability from faces of 42 female Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters. In study 1, BMI, but not fWHR, positively predicted participants' ratings of aggressiveness and fighting ability from facial photographs. In study 2, both high fWHR and high BMI composite faces were rated as more aggressive, tougher, and more likely to win a fight than low fWHR and low BMI composite faces, respectively. Further analyses revealed that the high BMI composite face was rated as more aggressive and tougher than the high fWHR composite face. Taken together, these results suggest that compared to fWHR, BMI may be a more salient cue to women's formidability.
Assuntos
Agressão/psicologia , Índice de Massa Corporal , Face/anatomia & histologia , Percepção Social , Adulto , Feminino , HumanosRESUMO
Sutherland and Young's perspective is a timely and rigorous examination of trait impressions based on facial cues. We propose three strtegies to further advance the field: incorporating natural language processing, including diverse facial stimuli, and re-interpreting developmental data.
Assuntos
Atitude , Percepção Social , Humanos , Sinais (Psicologia) , Expressão FacialRESUMO
First impressions based on facial cues have the potential to influence how older adults (OAs), a vulnerable population, are treated by others. The present study used a data-driven approach to examine dimensions underlying first impressions of OAs and whether those dimensions vary by perceiver age. In Experiment 1, young adult (YA) and OA participants provided unconstrained, written descriptions in response to OA faces. From these descriptors, 18 trait categories were identified that were similar, but not identical, across age groups. In Experiment 2, YA and OA participants rated OA faces on the trait words identified for their age group in Experiment 1. In separate principal components analyses, dimensions of sternness and confidence emerged for both groups. In Experiment 3, YA and OA participants rated these same faces on new words encompassing traits, emotion cues, and other appearance cues. Correlations between these ratings and factor scores showed that sternness is analogous to approachability for both age groups. Confidence is analogous to competence for both age groups and related to perceived age/health/attractiveness. Confidence was related to shyness for YAs but dominance for OAs. The current research has implications for a lifespan perspective on first impressions and informs functional accounts.