title: Effects of exogenous testosterone and mating context on men's preferences for female facial femininity.
abstract: Correlational research suggests that men show greater attraction to feminine female faces when their testosterone (T) levels are high. Men's preferences for feminine faces also seem to vary as a function of relationship context (short versus long-term). However, the relationship between T and preferences for female facial femininity has yet to be tested experimentally. In the current paper, we report the results of two experiments examining the causal role of T in modulating preferences for facial femininity across both short and long-term mating contexts. Results of Experiment 1 (within-subject design, n=24) showed that participants significantly preferred feminized versus masculinized versions of women's faces. Further, participants showed a stronger preference for feminine faces in the short versus the long-term context after they received T, but not after they received placebo. Post-hoc analyses suggested that this effect was driven by a lower preference for feminine faces in the long-term context when on T relative to placebo, and this effect was found exclusively for men who received placebo on the first day of testing, and T on the second day of testing (i.e., Order x Drug x Mating context interaction). In Experiment 2 (between-subject design, n=93), men demonstrated a significant preference for feminized female faces in the short versus the long-term context after T, but not after placebo administration. Collectively, these findings provide the first causal evidence that T modulates men's preferences for facial femininity as a function of mating context.
authors: Department of Psychology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Brian M
authors: BM
authors: Bird
authors: Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, United States.
authors: Lisa L M
authors: LLM
authors: Welling
authors: Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Triana L
authors: TL
authors: Ortiz
authors: Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Benjamin J P
authors: BJP
authors: Moreau
authors: Physical and Health Education, Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Steve
authors: S
authors: Hansen
authors: Department of Psychology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Emond
authors: Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Goldfarb
authors: Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Pierre L
authors: PL
authors: Bonin
authors: Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: justinca@nipissingu.ca.
authors: Justin M
authors: JM
authors: Carré
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D057227:Femininity; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Facial preferences; Femininity; Hormones; Mate preferences; Mating; Testosterone