Does your view of violence affect who you DATE? Men with feminine faces are preferred by women who see males as a threat
- Researchers measured the preferences of women in Bogota, Colombia
- This area was chosen because it is one of the most violent countries in the world
- The more that women agreed with the statement 'men are dangerous to their children', the more they preferred feminine male partners
Women who think that men are dangerous to their children prefer less 'manly' male partners, according to a new study.
Psychologists found that the more that women agreed with the statement 'men are dangerous to their children', the more they preferred feminine male partners.
The work is the first to find that women's face preferences are influenced by experiences and perceptions of violence.
Participants were shown pairs of European (left) and Salvadoran (right) male faces, with the left of each pair feminised and the right masculinised in shape. The results showed that women who thought men were dangerous preferred the feminised faces
Researchers from St Andrew's University measured the preferences of 153 men and women from Bogota, Colombia, and also asked them several questions related to health, access to media, education, and exposure to violence.
Colombia was chosen as the test site because it is one of the most violent nations in the world.
In 2012, its homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants was 30.8, compared to 1.0 in the UK.
Dr Martha Lucia Borras-Guevara, who led the research, said: 'We found that men and women who strongly believed that men are dangerous to their children preferred less masculine male faces, although this effect was only significant for women.
'We might have only found a significant effect for women's preferences since women, relative to men, invest more time and energy in their offspring, hence there would be a strong selective pressure to recognise any facial cues in men that relate to a violent or dangerous disposition.'
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Women who think that men are dangerous to their children prefer less 'manly' male partners, according to a new study (stock image)
Previous studies have suggested that masculine men may be effective protectors for women when they feel at risk.
But these studies ignored the fact that when women prefer a more masculine man, they may also put themselves at risk of increased antagonistic behaviours in the context of a romantic relationship.
Dr Carlota Batres, who also worked on the study, added: 'More masculine men have been found to be more aggressive and therefore, in places where partner violence is high, women would benefit from preferring more feminine male partners.'
The study also found that thinking that men are dangerous to their children explained significantly more of the variation in women's masculinity preferences than education, health, and access to media.
Professor David Perrett, who also worked on the study, added: 'These findings hint at different effects of domestic violence and/or violence outside the home on masculinity preferences.
'Moreover, these preferences may reflect women's strategy to avoid male violence, demonstrating that exposure to violence influences who we find attractive.'
TRUMP'S FACE GIVES AWAY HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE
Cass Business School found that President Donald Trump's leaderships skills can be determined by his facial features.
Because he has a masculine, older-looking and wide face, experts say he will likely be a dominant and powerful leader for the US.
Researchers suggests these type of features mean the person is a better negotiator and financially successful.
However, they are also linked to darker outcomes such as unethical behavior and exploitation of trust of others
A masculine face, which Trump was found to have, is often seen as dominate and suggests the individual thrives in competitive settings – like wartime.
On the other hand, masculine faces are found to appear less trustworthy and are not preferred in cooperative settings such as times of peace.
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