Dating Scene 2007: Stereotyping Potential Mates by Their Facial Features

If you have been out of the dating game for awhile you might be surprised at how much science has been injected into what used to be a decidedly subjective undertaking. One example is how scientists at the University of Michigan studied how women consciously or subconsciously evaluate whether male would make a good provider, father, and be faithful depending on the masculinity of their facial features.

"It's remarkable that minor physiological differences lead people to pre-judge a man's personality and behavior," said [Daniel J.] Kruger, a research scientist at the U-M School of Public Health and the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR).

In terms of evolutionary psychology, there may be a kernel of truth in what they are observing. This is because facial masculinity is related to levels of testosterone during development, and testosterone levels are related to rates of infidelity, violence and divorce. Therefore, "facial masculinity may serve as a visual cue in female mate choice, much as the tail of the male peacock signals females about male fitness to reproduce."

What does this mean to men and women hitting the dating circle? Actually, not too much. This thinking (stereotyping) is already exhibited by both sexes as it probably has for thousands of years and will continue to do so for thousands of years. When it comes to picking long-term mates, unless it's a quickie marriage immediately upon meeting, it's likely that the other factors involved in partner-for-life selection will overwhelm the shape of the man's jaw. Well, let's hope so.

h/t: Scientific Blogging