Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective

Autores
Goméz Valdés, Jorge; Hünemeier, Tábita; Quinto Sanchez, Mirsha Emmanuel; Paschetta, Carolina Andrea; de Azevedo, Soledad; González, Marina Fernanda; Martínez Abadías, Neus; Esparza, Mireira; Pucciarelli, Hector Mario; Salzano, Francisco M.; Bau, Claiton H. D.; Bortolini, Maria Catira; González José, Rolando
Año de publicación
2013
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Antisocial and criminal behaviors are multifactorial traits whose interpretation relies on multiple disciplines. Since these interpretations may have social, moral and legal implications, a constant review of the evidence is necessary before any scientific claim is considered as truth. A recent study proposed that men with wider faces relative to facial height (fWHR) are more likely to develop unethical behaviour mediated by a psychological sense of power. This research was based on reports suggesting that sexual dimorphism and selection would be responsible for a correlation between fWHR and aggression. Here we show that 4,960 individuals from 94 modern human populations belonging to a vast array of genetic and cultural contexts do not display significant amounts of fWHR sexual dimorphism. Further analyses using populations with associated ethnographical records as well as samples of male prisoners of the Mexico City Federal Penitentiary condemned by crimes of variable level of inter-personal aggression (homicide, robbery, and minor faults) did not show significant evidence, suggesting that populations/individuals with higher levels of bellicosity, aggressive behaviour, or power-mediated behaviour display greater fWHR. Finally, a regression analysis of fWHR on individual's fitness showed no significant correlation between this facial trait and reproductive success. Overall, our results suggest that facial attributes are poor predictors of aggressive behaviour, or at least, that sexual selection was weak enough to leave a signal on patterns of between- and within-sex and population facial variation. © 2013 Gómez-Valdés et al.
Fil: Goméz Valdés, Jorge. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México
Fil: Hünemeier, Tábita. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil
Fil: Quinto Sanchez, Mirsha Emmanuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: Paschetta, Carolina Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: de Azevedo, Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: González, Marina Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: Martínez Abadías, Neus. Universitat Pompeu Fabra; España
Fil: Esparza, Mireira. Universidad de Barcelona. Facultad de Biología. Departamento de Biología Animal; España
Fil: Pucciarelli, Hector Mario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina
Fil: Salzano, Francisco M.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil
Fil: Bau, Claiton H. D.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil
Fil: Bortolini, Maria Catira. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil
Fil: González José, Rolando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Materia
Multifactorial traits
Multiple disciplines
Facial height
Sexual dimorphism
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/54886
Acceder
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oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/54886
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics PerspectiveGoméz Valdés, JorgeHünemeier, TábitaQuinto Sanchez, Mirsha EmmanuelPaschetta, Carolina Andreade Azevedo, SoledadGonzález, Marina FernandaMartínez Abadías, NeusEsparza, MireiraPucciarelli, Hector MarioSalzano, Francisco M.Bau, Claiton H. D.Bortolini, Maria CatiraGonzález José, RolandoMultifactorial traitsMultiple disciplinesFacial heightSexual dimorphismhttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1Antisocial and criminal behaviors are multifactorial traits whose interpretation relies on multiple disciplines. Since these interpretations may have social, moral and legal implications, a constant review of the evidence is necessary before any scientific claim is considered as truth. A recent study proposed that men with wider faces relative to facial height (fWHR) are more likely to develop unethical behaviour mediated by a psychological sense of power. This research was based on reports suggesting that sexual dimorphism and selection would be responsible for a correlation between fWHR and aggression. Here we show that 4,960 individuals from 94 modern human populations belonging to a vast array of genetic and cultural contexts do not display significant amounts of fWHR sexual dimorphism. Further analyses using populations with associated ethnographical records as well as samples of male prisoners of the Mexico City Federal Penitentiary condemned by crimes of variable level of inter-personal aggression (homicide, robbery, and minor faults) did not show significant evidence, suggesting that populations/individuals with higher levels of bellicosity, aggressive behaviour, or power-mediated behaviour display greater fWHR. Finally, a regression analysis of fWHR on individual's fitness showed no significant correlation between this facial trait and reproductive success. Overall, our results suggest that facial attributes are poor predictors of aggressive behaviour, or at least, that sexual selection was weak enough to leave a signal on patterns of between- and within-sex and population facial variation. © 2013 Gómez-Valdés et al.Fil: Goméz Valdés, Jorge. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Hünemeier, Tábita. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Quinto Sanchez, Mirsha Emmanuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Paschetta, Carolina Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: de Azevedo, Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: González, Marina Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Abadías, Neus. Universitat Pompeu Fabra; EspañaFil: Esparza, Mireira. Universidad de Barcelona. Facultad de Biología. Departamento de Biología Animal; EspañaFil: Pucciarelli, Hector Mario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Salzano, Francisco M.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Bau, Claiton H. D.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Bortolini, Maria Catira. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: González José, Rolando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaPublic Library of Science2013-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/54886Goméz Valdés, Jorge; Hünemeier, Tábita; Quinto Sanchez, Mirsha Emmanuel; Paschetta, Carolina Andrea; de Azevedo, Soledad; et al.; Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective; Public Library of Science; Plos One; 8; 1; 1-2013; e523171932-6203CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0052317info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0052317info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-09-29T10:07:07Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/54886instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-09-29 10:07:07.293CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective
title Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective
spellingShingle Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective
Goméz Valdés, Jorge
Multifactorial traits
Multiple disciplines
Facial height
Sexual dimorphism
title_short Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective
title_full Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective
title_fullStr Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective
title_sort Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Goméz Valdés, Jorge
Hünemeier, Tábita
Quinto Sanchez, Mirsha Emmanuel
Paschetta, Carolina Andrea
de Azevedo, Soledad
González, Marina Fernanda
Martínez Abadías, Neus
Esparza, Mireira
Pucciarelli, Hector Mario
Salzano, Francisco M.
Bau, Claiton H. D.
Bortolini, Maria Catira
González José, Rolando
author Goméz Valdés, Jorge
author_facet Goméz Valdés, Jorge
Hünemeier, Tábita
Quinto Sanchez, Mirsha Emmanuel
Paschetta, Carolina Andrea
de Azevedo, Soledad
González, Marina Fernanda
Martínez Abadías, Neus
Esparza, Mireira
Pucciarelli, Hector Mario
Salzano, Francisco M.
Bau, Claiton H. D.
Bortolini, Maria Catira
González José, Rolando
author_role author
author2 Hünemeier, Tábita
Quinto Sanchez, Mirsha Emmanuel
Paschetta, Carolina Andrea
de Azevedo, Soledad
González, Marina Fernanda
Martínez Abadías, Neus
Esparza, Mireira
Pucciarelli, Hector Mario
Salzano, Francisco M.
Bau, Claiton H. D.
Bortolini, Maria Catira
González José, Rolando
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Multifactorial traits
Multiple disciplines
Facial height
Sexual dimorphism
topic Multifactorial traits
Multiple disciplines
Facial height
Sexual dimorphism
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Antisocial and criminal behaviors are multifactorial traits whose interpretation relies on multiple disciplines. Since these interpretations may have social, moral and legal implications, a constant review of the evidence is necessary before any scientific claim is considered as truth. A recent study proposed that men with wider faces relative to facial height (fWHR) are more likely to develop unethical behaviour mediated by a psychological sense of power. This research was based on reports suggesting that sexual dimorphism and selection would be responsible for a correlation between fWHR and aggression. Here we show that 4,960 individuals from 94 modern human populations belonging to a vast array of genetic and cultural contexts do not display significant amounts of fWHR sexual dimorphism. Further analyses using populations with associated ethnographical records as well as samples of male prisoners of the Mexico City Federal Penitentiary condemned by crimes of variable level of inter-personal aggression (homicide, robbery, and minor faults) did not show significant evidence, suggesting that populations/individuals with higher levels of bellicosity, aggressive behaviour, or power-mediated behaviour display greater fWHR. Finally, a regression analysis of fWHR on individual's fitness showed no significant correlation between this facial trait and reproductive success. Overall, our results suggest that facial attributes are poor predictors of aggressive behaviour, or at least, that sexual selection was weak enough to leave a signal on patterns of between- and within-sex and population facial variation. © 2013 Gómez-Valdés et al.
Fil: Goméz Valdés, Jorge. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México
Fil: Hünemeier, Tábita. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil
Fil: Quinto Sanchez, Mirsha Emmanuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: Paschetta, Carolina Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: de Azevedo, Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: González, Marina Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: Martínez Abadías, Neus. Universitat Pompeu Fabra; España
Fil: Esparza, Mireira. Universidad de Barcelona. Facultad de Biología. Departamento de Biología Animal; España
Fil: Pucciarelli, Hector Mario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina
Fil: Salzano, Francisco M.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil
Fil: Bau, Claiton H. D.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil
Fil: Bortolini, Maria Catira. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil
Fil: González José, Rolando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
description Antisocial and criminal behaviors are multifactorial traits whose interpretation relies on multiple disciplines. Since these interpretations may have social, moral and legal implications, a constant review of the evidence is necessary before any scientific claim is considered as truth. A recent study proposed that men with wider faces relative to facial height (fWHR) are more likely to develop unethical behaviour mediated by a psychological sense of power. This research was based on reports suggesting that sexual dimorphism and selection would be responsible for a correlation between fWHR and aggression. Here we show that 4,960 individuals from 94 modern human populations belonging to a vast array of genetic and cultural contexts do not display significant amounts of fWHR sexual dimorphism. Further analyses using populations with associated ethnographical records as well as samples of male prisoners of the Mexico City Federal Penitentiary condemned by crimes of variable level of inter-personal aggression (homicide, robbery, and minor faults) did not show significant evidence, suggesting that populations/individuals with higher levels of bellicosity, aggressive behaviour, or power-mediated behaviour display greater fWHR. Finally, a regression analysis of fWHR on individual's fitness showed no significant correlation between this facial trait and reproductive success. Overall, our results suggest that facial attributes are poor predictors of aggressive behaviour, or at least, that sexual selection was weak enough to leave a signal on patterns of between- and within-sex and population facial variation. © 2013 Gómez-Valdés et al.
publishDate 2013
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2013-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/54886
Goméz Valdés, Jorge; Hünemeier, Tábita; Quinto Sanchez, Mirsha Emmanuel; Paschetta, Carolina Andrea; de Azevedo, Soledad; et al.; Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective; Public Library of Science; Plos One; 8; 1; 1-2013; e52317
1932-6203
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/54886
identifier_str_mv Goméz Valdés, Jorge; Hünemeier, Tábita; Quinto Sanchez, Mirsha Emmanuel; Paschetta, Carolina Andrea; de Azevedo, Soledad; et al.; Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective; Public Library of Science; Plos One; 8; 1; 1-2013; e52317
1932-6203
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0052317
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0052317
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
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application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Public Library of Science
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Public Library of Science
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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score 13.070432

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