Abstract:
Much attractiveness research has focused on face shape. The role of masculinity
(which for adults is thought to be a relatively stable shape cue to developmental
testosterone levels) in male facial attractiveness has been examined, with mixed
results. Recent work on the perception of skin color (a more variable cue to current
health status) indicates that increased skin redness, yellowness and lightness
enhance apparent health. It has been suggested that stable cues such as masculinity
may be less important to attractiveness judgments than short-term, more variable
health cues. We examine associations between male facial attractiveness,
masculinity and skin color in African and Caucasian populations. Masculinity was not
found to be associated with attractiveness in either ethnic group. However, skin color
was found to be an important predictor of attractiveness judgments, particularly for
own-ethnicity faces. Our results suggest that more plastic health cues, such as skin
color, are more important than developmental cues such as masculinity. Further,
unfamiliarity with natural skin color variation in other ethnic groups may limit
observers’ ability to utilize these color cues.
