Square-headed maniacs: how face shape affects libido
In recent years, psychologists and anthropologists have paid much attention to the relationship between facial shape and behavior. Scientists are interested in how facial shape correlates with certain psychological attitudes, behavior and personality traits.
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Scientific assumptions
For example, some studies have shown that in men, a very wide face may indicate increased levels of aggression, risk of unethical behavior, and sometimes even psychopathy.
A recent study on this topic was conducted by scientist Stephen Arnocki from Nipissing University (Ontario, Canada). The purpose of this study was to determine how facial morphology relates to sexual relationships, infidelity, and mate choice.
The first part of the scientific research: the role of the FWHR indicator
The study presents the results of two separate experiments. In the first study, Arnocki and his colleagues studied 145 white college students. Forty-eight percent of them were heterosexual youth. Subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their sexual behavior and characteristics of sexual desire. The scientists also studied the portraits of the experiment participants. Specifically, they looked for metrics such as FWHR (short for facial width to height ratio), for each subject.
Using multiple regression analysis, a strong positive association was found between FWHR and levels of sexual desire in both men and women.
Second part of the experiment
Then the scientists conducted another, this time larger, study. They decided to find out whether the previously obtained results could be repeated on a larger sample of subjects.
For this purpose, 314 participants filled out a questionnaire and provided their sketches. In addition, the researchers added to the study such indicators as “sociability” and “deliberate infidelity.” Sociability is a person’s high level of readiness for casual sex. In contrast to this characteristic, people with limited orientation practice monogamy. They don”t like the idea of cheating or any connection outside of that relationship.
Read also: How does sexual activity affect the life and mood of older people?
Much has been written about the benefits of sex for physical and mental health. Research and articles mainly affect young and middle-aged people.
Intentional infidelity is typical for people who not only prefer casual sex, but are also ready to establish more or less long-term relationships with two or more partners.
The face of a maniac. identify the killer by facial features. do you see? check yourself!
Findings: What does a square face mean?
What are the results of the study? A significant FWHR was found to be associated with high levels of sexual desire in this group. Both men and women with high FWHR reported greater sexual desire. Thus, people with a shorter, wider face (closer to a square) are expected to have a higher sex drive.
However, for sociability and expected infidelity, these measures were correlated with higher FWHR only in men. This means that square-faced men are more prone to infidelity and casual relationships. They are more accustomed to the idea of casual sex.
Supposed causes of the phenomenon
This scientific study is one of the first of its kind. So far it is purely observational in nature, and scientists cannot say what factors its results are associated with. However, one assumption still exists. Perhaps the reason for all this is the male hormone testosterone.
The team also noted limitations of the study. Firstly, the sample of subjects was very limited. Secondly, university students took part in the experiment. The scientists chose them on the grounds that sexual interest is likely to be very high among young people.
Therefore, future studies in this direction should be larger and include subjects of different ages.
