(opposite-sex) attractiveness ratings (7-point rating scale) done by additional ... symmetry: Voices of symmetrical people rated more attractive (Hughes et al., ...
The voice of symmetry – More symmetrical larynxes in men are associated with higher voice attractiveness and mate-choice relevant anthropometric measures Benjamin P.
1 Lange ,
Harald A.
2,3 Euler ,
Katrin
3 Neumann ,
Eugen
4 Zaretsky
& Verena
5 Ungericht
1Inst.
Human-Computer-Media, Fac. of Human Sciences, University of Wuerzburg, Germany, 2Dept. of Developmental Psychology, University of Vienna, Austria, 3Dept. of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Clinic for ENT, Head- and Neck Surgery, Hospital of the University Bochum, Germany, 4Dept. of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, University Hospital Marburg, Germany, 5University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Background: • The signaling value of the human voice with respect to mate-choice relevant aspects has attracted substantial research interest • E.g., female voices are perceived the more attractive, the higher conception probability is (Pipitone & Gallup, 2008) • Voice might allow for assessing body (mainly facial) symmetry: Voices of symmetrical people rated more attractive (Hughes et al., 2002; Hughes et al., 2008) • Voice attractiveness, body attractiveness, and face attractiveness (probably) correlated with each other (Saxton et al., 2009) • Human voice produced by the larynx (with vocal cords as the principal element) → H1: Larynx symmetry and perceived voice attractiveness are correlated (obvious to assume, as voice attractiveness and body symmetry are correlated; Hughes et al., 2008; Saxton et al., 2009) • RQ1: Correlations of larynx symmetry and voice attractiveness with: facial symmetry, WHR, SHR, BMI, body fat, NC, DR, health variables?
Methods: • Participants: 80 (57 w, mainly students), age: 20-70 yrs (M = 28.04, SD = 10.69) • Filled out: Questionnaires: (1) standard questionnaire (e.g., demographics), (2) health-related behavior • Were photographed: Facial pictures: (1) symmetry measurements, (2) (opposite-sex) attractiveness ratings (7-point rating scale) done by additional sample of 90 participants (52 w, MAge = 23.3) • Were anthropometricly measured and weighed etc. (e.g., WHR; see RQ1) • Read a phonetic standard text, which was recorded: Recordings played to an additional sample of N = 353 (119 w, MAge = 27.0) for (opposite-sex) attractiveness ratings (7-point rating scale) • Laryngostroboscopy: video recordings of the participants' larynxes (see Figure 1) • Two phoniatricians, experienced in examining and diagnosing larynxes, judged (7-point rating scale) each recorded larynx on symmetry (α = .78)
larynx trachea Figure 1. Principle of laryngostroboscopy (left) and thus recorded larynx (from above) of one of our participants during phonation (right)
Results:
Discussion: Our research focused on the importance of the human larynx for voice attractiveness. Our main finding was that symmetrical larynxes in men produce the more attractive voices. In line with our other findings, it appears as if the structure of the larynx and / or the attractiveness of one's voice is linked to her / his state of health. One major underlying variable might be developmental stability. Some questions remain unanswered though: For instance, why is larynx symmetry correlated with voice attractiveness in men, but not in women? It might also be worthwhile to think about a better measurement of larynx asymmetry. We opted for an expert rating (which worked quite well), but more direct measures of the exact laryngeal structures might be the better choice, although this might be methodologically challenging. All this should be addressed in future research.
Voice attractiveness rating
│
• In men, larynx asymmetry correlated negatively with voice attractiveness: rp = -.58, p = .005 (H1), facial attractiveness: r = -.61, p = .005, and SHR: r = -.37, p = .056 • … and positively with: facial asymmetry: r = .29, p = .11, BMI, body fat, NC: rs = .44 / .43 / .52; ps < .03, intake of prescription medication: r = .36, p = .061, and DR: r = .36, p = .063 • In women, larynx asymmetry correlated positively with: nicotine abuse: r = .24, p = .039 • Also: In women, voice attractiveness negatively correlated with WHR: rp = -.23, p ○ Observed = .046. However, no linear relation: curvilinear regression provided the best fit: Linear Rkorr² = .082, p = .029 (see Figure 2) ∙─∙ Quadratic
WHR Figure 2. Scatterplots with regression lines showing the associations between voice attractiveness and WHR in women
References: Hughes, S. M., Harrison, M. A., & Gallup Jr., G. G. (2002). The sound of symmetry: Voice as a marker of developmental stability. Evolution and Human Behavior, 23, 173-180. Hughes, S. M., Pastizzo, M. J., & Gallup Jr., G. G. (2008). The sound of symmetry revisited: Subjective and objective analyses of voice. Journal Nonverbal Behavior, 32(2), 93-108. Pipitone, R. N., & Gallup, G. G. (2008). Women's voice attractiveness varies across the menstrual cycle. Evolution and Human Behavior, 29(4), 268-274. Saxton, T. K., Burriss, R. P., Murray, A. K., Rowland, H. M., & Roberts, S. C. (2009). Face, body and speech cues independently predict judgments of attractiveness. Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, 7(1), 23-35.
30th annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Amsterdam, Netherlands, July 4-7, 2018
