Why is a larger Bi-temporal width in comparison with Bi-Zygomatic width attractive among females

Summary

Bitemporal width is measured from the most lateral points on each side of the forehead, while bi-zygomatic width is defined as the distance between the most laterally positioned points on the zygomatic arches. A larger bi-temporal width in comparison to bi-zygomatic width is considered attractive among females. According to a study, an unattractive face often features a round lower face, stretched chin region, and compressed eye and eyebrow regions. It was also found that a high amount of facial fat is often associated with a high body fat proportion, making the average masculine body shape with greater muscle mass more attractive to women, while a high body fat proportion is deemed least attractive. Attractive facial shapes are longer and more dolichocephalic, featuring a narrower lower jaw and a wider, fuller lower lip. Additionally, another study found that faces with shorter width are perceived as more trustworthy. Thus, a larger bi-temporal width compared to bi-zygomatic width contributes to attractiveness, trustworthiness, and the perception of a healthier body shape among females.

Research

Bitemporal width, measured from the most lateral point on each side of the forehead. Bizygomatic width is defined as the distance between the most laterally positioned points on the zygomatic arches.

In the study “Geometric Morphometrics of Male Facial Shape in Relation to Physical Strength and Perceived Attractiveness, Dominance, and Masculinity” by Sonja Windhager at el (2011), Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria, carried out a statistical study examining the preferences of Seventy-nine woman using an experimental group of Twenty-six men which ranged from 18 to 32 years in age. The study concluded that “an unattractive face” consisted of “rounding of the lower face, a vertical stretching of […] the chin region, and a horizontal compression in the region of the eyes and eyebrows”

The study continues, “In a qualitative comparison study, Donofrio (2000) reported that a high amount of facial fat is often linked to a high body fat proportion”. “In a cross-cultural study, women rated an average (or mesomorphic) masculine body shape indicative of greater muscle mass as very attractive, whereas a disproportionately high body fat proportion (endomorphic) as least attractive (Dixson, 2009)”. “The attractive facial shape is comparably longer and more dolichocephalic than in very strong, dominant, and masculine-rated men”. “When perceived attractiveness is high, the lower jaw is narrower and not square and especially the lower lip is wider and fuller.”

Apart from attractiveness, according to the study “Valid facial cues to cooperation and trust: male facial width and trustworthiness” by Stirrat &Perrett (2010), the faces with shorter width are perceived as more trustworthy.

References

Windhager, S., Schaefer, K. and Fink, B., 2011. Geometric morphometrics of male facial shape in relation to physical strength and perceived attractiveness, dominance, and masculinity. American Journal of Human Biology. 23, 805-814. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.21219

Stirrat, M., Perrett, D. I., 2010. Valid Facial Cues to Cooperation and Trust: Male Facial Width and Trustworthiness. Psychological Science. 21 (3), 349-354. doi:10.1177/0956797610362647