Heterosexual romantic couples mate assortatively for facial symmetry, but not masculinity

Robert P. Burriss, S. Craig Roberts, Lisa L M Welling, David A. Puts, Anthony C. Little

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Preferences for partners with symmetric and sex-typical faces are well documented and considered evidence for the good-genes theory of mate choice. However, it is unclear whether preferences for these traits drive the real-world selection of mates. In two samples of young heterosexual couples from the United Kingdom (Study 1) and the United States (Study 2), the authors found assortment for facial symmetry but not for sex typicality or independently rated attractiveness. Within-couple similarity in these traits did not predict relationship duration or quality, although female attractiveness and relationship duration were negatively correlated among couples in which the woman was the more attractive partner. The authors conclude that humans may mate assortatively on facial symmetry, but this remains just one of the many physical and nonphysical traits to which people likely attend when forming romantic partnerships. This is also the first evidence that preferences for symmetry transfer from the laboratory to a real-world setting.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)601-613
Number of pages13
JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Volume37
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2011

Keywords

  • assortative mating
  • facial attractiveness
  • masculinity
  • mate choice
  • symmetry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology

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