Facial Cues to Physical Strength in Tuvans

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Abstract

This experimental study presents a comprehensive analysis of men’s and women’s facial traits signaling physical strength. The study was conducted among the Tuvans, in the populations from the southern and south-western regions of the Tuva republic. At the first stage of the study, we have identified the male and female facial traits which are objectively related to physical strength. According to the results of geometric and morphometric analysis, facial shape was associated with physical strength in both men (p <0.00) and women (p <0.00). Moreover, the facial areas associated with physical strength have a similar shape in men and women. In order to assess the ability of the Tuvans to recognize physical strength via facial images, we created portraits of men and women morphed according to the physical strength criterion and presented them for evaluation. The evaluators were Mangun-Taiga Tuvans of both sexes. The results showed that raters of the same origin, Mongun-Taiga Tuvans of both sexes, regardless of age, accurately recognize physical strength through men’s, but not women’s, portraits. The results obtained are discussed from the perspective of evolutionary theory.

General Information

Keywords: physical strength, geometric morphometry, facial shape, Tuvans

Journal rubric: Face Science

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2022150307

Funding. The study was carried out in accordance with the research plan of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (AAM, VVR, MLB). Data collection for this study was carried out with the support of the grant of the Russian Academy of Sciences No. 21-18- 00597 (AAD).

Received: 18.08.2022

Accepted:

For citation: Mezentseva A.A., Rostovtseva V.V., Demidov A.A., Butovskaya M.L. Facial Cues to Physical Strength in Tuvans. Eksperimental'naâ psihologiâ = Experimental Psychology (Russia), 2022. Vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 88–99. DOI: 10.17759/exppsy.2022150307. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Anna A. Mezentseva, Junior Researcher at the Center for Cross-Cultural Psychology and Human Ethology Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6149-8971, e-mail: khatsenkova@yandex.ru

Viktoria V. Rostovtseva, PhD in Biology, senior researcher at the Center for Cross-Cultural Psychology and Human Ethology, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1846-9865, e-mail: victoria.v.rostovtseva@gmail.com

Alexander A. Demidov, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Department of General Psychology, Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Experimental Psychology, MSUPE, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6660-5761, e-mail: demidov@inpsycho.ru

Marina L. Butovskaya, Doctor of History, Professor, Head of the Sector of Cross-Cultural Psychology and Human Ethology, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEA RAS), Leading Researcher Training and Research Center of Social Anthropology, Russian State Humanitarian University (RGGU UNCSA), Professor of the Department of Ethnology, Faculty of History, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5528-0519, e-mail: marina.butovskaya@gmail.com

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