Summary
Research
According to a study by Holzleitner and Perrett (2016), for males, deep-set eyes are considered a “masculine” trait that aligns with perceptions of strength. The authors mentioned that “the muscle-associated face shape revealed characteristics previously described as ‘masculine’ (such as more protruding brow ridges, deeper-set eyes, pronounced cheekbones, and a larger jaw). This suggests that deep-set eyes, influenced by testosterone, contribute to a facial morphology that signals strength and masculinity. Such traits are seen as advantageous in terms of attractiveness and perceived dominance.
References
Holzleitner, I. J., & Perrett, D. I. (2016). Perception of strength from 3D faces is linked to facial cues of physique. Evolution and Human Behavior, 37(3), 217-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2015.11.004