UCSB study finds physical strength, fighting ability revealed in h...(tely protect them and their children. Me...)

Date:10/22/2008

tely protect them and their children. Men have a lot more experience with rough and tumble play and direct experience with fighting, yet women are just as good at assessing these variables. The authors also point out that neither men nor women fare as well in assessing women's strength. This is entirely expected because, ancestrally, inflicting violence was mostly the province of men.

"The next step is to isolate what it is in the face that indicates upper body strength," said Sell. He suggests that the correlation may lie in the heavier brow ridge and thicker jaw that result from increased levels of testosterone. "Many studies have been done on the effects of testosterone on the face. There's a good chance testosterone is involved in regulating the body for battle, and men with high testosterone those with a heavy brow ridge and thicker jaw developed bodies that were more prepared for combat."

"One reason we evolved the ability to perceive physical strength in the face may be that it's where we focus our attention when we look at someone," said Cosmides.

"Even if we are able to see someone's body, we always look at the face. It's so rich in social information what a person is thinking or feeling and adding the assessment of physical strength is a huge benefit. A person who is angry and strong offers a much greater threat than the person who is angry but weak."

'/>"/>

Contact: Andrea Estrada andrea.estrada@ia.ucsb.edu 805-893-4620 University of California - Santa Barbara Source:Eurekalert

0 GOOD

Page: 1 2 3
Related biology news :

1. U of MN study shows link between gene variations and cancer survival
2. NOAA and NSF commission national study of ocean acidification
3. Study of polar dinosaur migration questions whether dinosaurs were truly the first great migrators
4. New CU-Boulder study shows diversity decreases chances of parasitic disease
5. UCSF Fresno leading-edge study lends hope to emphysema patients
6. Study sheds new light on dolphin coordination during predation
7. Current mass extinction spurs major study of which plants to save
8. Study: Wildlife need more complex travel plans
9. UGA study reveals ecosystem-level consequences of frog extinctions
10. Study links nicotine with breast cancer growth and spread
11. Study finds high mortality of endangered loggerhead sea turtles in Baja California