Resource availability and experiences of partner violence shape facial masculinity preferences in women
Abstract
Women’s preferences for facial masculinity in men are influenced by individual and socio-contextual factors that allow them to balance costs-benefits in pursuit of their well-being. This study examined how Colombian women’s preferences for masculinized male faces are influenced by relationship context and resource availability, as well as their individual experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV). We used a forced-choice paradigm with eye-tracking technology to assess visual attention and face choice in 293 cisgender heterosexual women. Participants were randomly assigned to either a high or low resource availability condition and asked to choose a preferred partner for short- and long-term relationships. We also collected self-reported experiences of IPV. The findings revealed a strong preference for masculinized faces in both short- and long-term relationships, with a greater preference observed in long-term contexts and under low resource availability. However, women who reported higher levels of physical IPV showed a reduced preference for masculinity, particularly in long-term relationships and in contexts of high resource availability. These results suggest that while Colombian women generally exhibit strong preferences for masculine traits, socio-contextual factors, such as resource availability and experiences of IPV, significantly modulate these preferences. The study highlights the complex interplay between individual, evolutionary, and socio-ecological factors in shaping mate preferences, supporting the idea that masculinity is valued differently based on relationship goals, resource conditions, and individual experiences such as intimate partner violence.
Milena Vásquez-Amézquita
Associate Professor / PhD supervision 2015-2018 / Postdoc supervision 2021-2022
Associate Professor, Researcher in Neuroscience at Universidad El Bosque. Interested in the cognitive mechanisms that underlie mood disorders and sexual behaviour.
Andrés Castellanos-Chacón
Research Assistant since 2019 / Teaching supervision since 2019 / BSc Psychology | Research supervision 2017-2018
Research assistant at the Human Behaviour Lab in since 2019, and BSc research project student between 2017 and 2018.
Juan David Leongómez
Associate Professor
My research interests include mate choice and human vocal communication, with an aspiration towards understanding musicality. I am also interested in bioacoustics and psychoacoustics, as well as statistics and programming.