Abstract
This study explores the evolutionary-based hypothesis that facial attractiveness (a guiding force in mate selection) is a cue for physical fitness (presumably an important contributor to mate value in ancestral times). Since fluctuating asymmetry, a measure of developmental stability, is known to be a valid cue for fitness in several biological domains, we scrutinized facial asymmetry as a potential mediator between attractiveness and fitness. In our sample of young women, facial beauty indeed indicated physical fitness. The relationships that pertained to asymmetry were in the expected direction. However, a closer analysis revealed that facial asymmetry did not mediate the relationship between fitness and attractiveness. Unexpected problems regarding the measurement of facial asymmetry are discussed.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 147-167 |
Journal | Human Nature |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2004 |
Keywords
- physical fitness
- facial asymmetry
- psychology