title: Gender identity rather than sexual orientation impacts on facial preferences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Differences in facial preferences between heterosexual men and women are well documented. It is still a matter of debate, however, how variations in sexual identity/sexual orientation may modify the facial preferences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the facial preferences of male-to-female (MtF) individuals with gender dysphoria (GD) and the influence of short-term/long-term relationships on facial preference, in comparison with healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen untreated MtF subjects, 30 heterosexual males, 64 heterosexual females, and 42 homosexual males from university students/staff, at gay events, and in Gender Clinics were shown a composite male or female face. The sexual dimorphism of these pictures was stressed or reduced in a continuous fashion through an open-source morphing program with a sequence of 21 pictures of the same face warped from a feminized to a masculinized shape.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open-source morphing program (gtkmorph) based on the X-Morph algorithm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MtF GD subjects and heterosexual females showed the same pattern of preferences: a clear preference for less dimorphic (more feminized) faces for both short- and long-term relationships. Conversely, both heterosexual and homosexual men selected significantly much more dimorphic faces, showing a preference for hyperfeminized and hypermasculinized faces, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show that the facial preferences of MtF GD individuals mirror those of the sex congruent with their gender identity. Conversely, heterosexual males trace the facial preferences of homosexual men, indicating that changes in sexual orientation do not substantially affect preference for the most attractive faces.
authors: School of Sexology, Department of Clinical; Applied and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Germany.
authors: Giacomo
authors: G
authors: Ciocca
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Limoncin
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Cellerino
authors: Alessandra D
authors: AD
authors: Fisher
authors: Giovanni Luca
authors: GL
authors: Gravina
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Carosa
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Mollaioli
authors: Dario R
authors: DR
authors: Valenzano
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Mennucci
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Bandini
authors: Savino M
authors: SM
authors: Di Stasi
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Maggi
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Lenzi
authors: Emmanuele A
authors: EA
authors: Jannini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005262:Feminization; D005783:Gender Identity; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Facial Preferences; Gender Dysphoria; Gender Identity; Male to Female Subjects; Sexual Orientation