Male Facial Attractiveness and its Effects on Mate Selection
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Abstract
This paper seeks to explain the male facial attractiveness. It seeks to explain and discuss indicators of male facial attractiveness. As part of this, it explains evolutionary theories and traits that provide solid evidence of the importance of facial attractiveness in men. In this particular evolutionary argument, it is shown that men with high levels of testosterone have a predisposition to have certain features and traits that make them attractive. This includes high facial width to height ratio (fWHR), wide jaw, large neck, protruding chin, angularity, and aggressive, assertive, and/or ambitious personality. This paper also seeks to explain the implications of male facial attractiveness on dating and mate selection. It has been shown in multiple studies over multiple decades that men with more attractive faces have more options in the dating sphere and in every walk of life for that matter. From career opportunities to even criminal justice verdicts, handsome men have more options and are treated in a more positive light. In fact, it has been shown that women also have more frequent and pleasurable orgasms with male partners that have more symmetric faces. Male faces can be objectively studies along with the implications of attractiveness.
Keywords: dating, handsome, attractive, facial attraction, mating selection in humans
Male Facial Attractiveness and its Effects on Mate Selection

Facial attractiveness is the combination of features that shows copulative maturity and sexual identity. These in turn show sexual dimorphism and phenotypic harmony, which is what we deem as attractive (Wade, 2010). Evolutionarily, we evolved to show these traits. According to evolutionary theorists, men compete for women because women invest far more in sex because of a limited number of children possible. Men don’t have this problem so they have to try harder for sex. Because of this, women only desire the best mates: physically strong, handsome, large in frame, etc. because in primeval times, this is who could protect and provide for her and the children by hunting, fighting, etc. (Eagly & Wood, 1999). This competition weeded out low status and low testosterone men because women would choose to mate with the most sexually fit men. This is why women prefer men that have evolved to be assertive or even aggressive, risk taking, handsome, large framed, and strong. According to Doctors Eisenegger, Haushofer, and Fehr who work for Cambridge University in the Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (2011, p. 3), this is shown today in people with higher blood testosterone levels having “vigilant responses to angry facial expressions by stimulation of the amygdala”. These men are aggressive and protectors who evolved to be strong fighters and providers. Furthermore, women enjoy bearing offspring and copulating with men of high genetic quality. Consequently, the more attractive a man is, the more a woman enjoys sex and orgasm. This is shown in a study done by Dr. Joel Wade who works as a psychology professor at Bucknell University (2010). He studied 172 men and women in couples and surveyed them on their sex habits. It was found that men with more symmetric, attractive, and dimorphic faces gave women quicker, more frequent, and more pleasurable orgasms than with those with less symmetric, less attractive faces. This means that the more attractive a man is, the easier it is to make a woman orgasm during intercourse. This obviously plays a key role in mate selection. For example, it has been shown in multiple double blind social experiments and surveys that facial attractiveness dictates our reaction and feelings toward a person as well as how we treat others regardless of objective information we have about those people. For example, attractive people are less likely to be given severe criminal justice sentences for the same crime committed (Zebrowitz & Montepare, 2008). Of course, these traits that allow for such treatment can be identified. The facial attractiveness of the human male can be objectively measured by testosteronic traits and other various markers, which plays a key role in mate selection.
There are several traits that make a man facially attractive. The three main signals of this are high amounts of sexual dimorphism, averageness, and symmetry. Dimorphism shows the amount of testosterone a man possesses. Since testosterone has been shown to inhibit immune functioning and raise stress levels, dimorphism then shows that the individual is still healthy and well despite the compromised immune functioning. Averageness and symmetry similar. Averageness refers to looking looking like the mean of an accumulation of face, which has been shown to be very attractive. Symmetry is shown to indicate genetic quality as it shows proper bone and soft tissue development despite environmental pressures according to Doctors Foo, Simmons, and Rhodes who work for the University of Western Australia (2017). Furthermore, it shows a a stable development and good underlying genetic quality. Furthermore, asymmetry of certain features such as eyes or jaw shows poor developmental progression and genetic instability (and therefore desirability). In humans, men with more asymmetrical, less dimorphic faces are indicators of a poor immune system and a lack of ability to fight off illnesses and pathogens (Foo, Simmons, & Rhodes, 2017). This is shown by the fact that women desire men with more masculine faces when ovulating, signalling that they wish to reproduce with men who are more likely to be healthy and fit. Also, high amounts of sexual dimorphism in men’s faces show sexual, physical, and physiological strength and health because it signals the ability to withstand environmental pressures, diseases, and altercations (Zebrowitz & Montepare, 2008). This is why women are more attracted to men with higher amounts of sexually dimorphic qualities. This includes possessing a large, wide jaw, thick neck, protruding mandible, and long, vertical mandibular ramus (from ear to bend in jawbone). The more a person has of each three traits listed, the more attractive he is.
Facial and bodily attractiveness for a man is largely determined by your testosterone levels. According to evolutionary theorists such as Professors Alice Wood at Northwestern University and Wendy Wood at Texas A&M University (1999), women favor men with greater size and strength, which are both indicators of high testosterone. In this light, testosterone contributes to not only the development of primary sexual characteristics, but also of secondary ones. This includes more muscle mass, bone mass and density, and facial and bodily hair (Eisenegger, Haushofer, & Fehr, 2011). Lesser known sex characteristics are behavioral and psychological, as it controls to some extent the “fight or flight response” as well as the obtention of status. Facial attractiveness is based on averageness, symmetry, and dimorphism. Testosterone also shapes facial structure. Men with higher facial width-to-height ratios (fWHRs) have been shown to have higher blood testosterone levels, and consequently are more aggressive and ambitious on average. According to Doctors Valentine, Li, Penke, Parrett who work with the School of Social Sciences at Singapore University (2014, p. 12) women are heavily attracted to this trait. He states that “fWHR was positively associated with perceptions of dominance, being chosen for a second date, and attractiveness to women for short-term relationships”. This means that typically a wider face is more attractive to women in the speed dating atmosphere. Testosteronic traits generally determine a man’s attractiveness.
Male facial attractiveness has profound effects on everyday activities as well as dating and mate selection among females. Attractive males are more likely to be fertile and have a high sperm count. In addition to this, there is indication that physically attractive men have greater financial success and strength. (Foo, Simmons, & Rhodes, 2017). Drs. Valentine, Li, Penke, and Perrett (2014, p. 4) state that “in addition to health benefits, facial dominance may be an honest signal of men’s formidability as intrasexual competitors”. This means that men with more attractive faces are seen by women as more likely to be in relationships or capable of having a partner. Another reason why male facial attractiveness is so important in attracting mates is because many facial features psychologically or even physically influence our  behavior. (Zebrowitz & Montepare, 2008). Experts in this research field refer to this as the “attractiveness halo” according to Doctors Zebrowitz and Montepare who work for the Emerson College Psychology Department. They also state that more attractive people are seen in a more positive light in general. Attractive people appear more extroverted, less awkward, intelligent, and healthy. Furthermore, this means that attractive men are more positively judged in platonic and romantic relationships, jobs, and even in the court systems. Appearance matters not only when our reactions to a face are arguably relevant to our choices, but even when those choices should be driven by more objective information. In a study performed by Doctors Foo, Simmons, and Rhodes on 101 men and 80 females at the University of Western Australia, blood and semen samples were collected from the men in the experiment. Then, pictures were taken of male and female participants posing with a closed-mouthed, resting expression. These pictures were rated on a 9 point scale by participants of the opposite sex, where 1 was the least attractive, 9 was the most attractive). All of the participants completed a survey on their sexual experiences. This included questions on their age when they first had sex, the number of lovers they have had, etc. The opposite sex then guessed the answer to the questions while viewing the other participants’ faces. (Foo, Simmons, & Rhodes, 2017). After several trials and repeats of the experiment, shows that of the male participants, the most attractive men were thought to have been more promiscuous and had more attention from the opposite sex in their lifetime. Overall, men who are attractive have been chances and options in dating and in life.
Male facial attractiveness is marked by symmetry, averageness, and dimorphism. Features that highlight these traits are seen as evolutionary markers of high genetic quality. Attractive, testosteronic faces show millions of years of healthy development and a stable family line, which makes women more attracted to these faces, as reproducing with facially attractive men meant a better chance of survival for her and her offspring in the early days of man. Attractive men also are treated better by society in every light, not just dating. This includes in the office, on the street, and even in federal courts. When it comes to dating, women want to date and reproduce with facially attractive men. This is seen when women have more frequent and more pleasurable orgasms with men they find more attractive. This is why facial attractiveness is vital, not just in dating and mate selection, but in life.

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