The role of sex hormones and social determinants in assessment of facial attractiveness.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES\nThe current study is focused on assessing the factors of attractiveness of opposite-sex individuals based on evaluating photographs of their faces.\n\n\nBACKGROUND\nWhen assessing the attractiveness, factors of both, the assessed individual and the assessor play a role. The relationship of the preference for partners based on their physical appearance with the markers of prenatal testosterone is not fully understood.\n\n\nMETHODS\nSex hormone levels were measured in saliva, while age, social status, income and occupation were recorded. A total of 30 women and 35 men were enrolled.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThe identified factors determining the attractiveness of menare their age and prenatal testosterone level (second-to-fourth digit ratio - 2D:4D). The attractiveness of men is more influenced by the factors of evaluating women, namely the rating assigned to the men positively correlates with age, 2D:4D, and salivary estradiol of the evaluating women. The attractiveness of women correlated negatively with age and positively with prenatal exposure to androgens (2D:4D).The women with lower estradiol were rated higher by men who themselves had low estradiol levels. The attractiveness did not correlate with current testosterone.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThis study contributes to the knowledge on the role of sex hormones in human sexuality and partner choice. Further studies should include genetic factors of testosterone metabolism. (Tab. 4, Ref. 23).