Teeth as Weapons.... Sexy

[dragon wench]

[url="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/06/29/scistubble129.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_29062008"]Teeth as Weapons.... Sexy[/url]

Stubble is the way to win a woman’s heart, a study has shown. Researchers found that women are more attracted to men with stubbly chins than those with clean-shaven faces or full beards.

George Clooney: Women prefer men with stubble for love, sex and marriage
Hair apparent: George Clooney

Women participating in the research rated men with stubble as tough, mature, aggressive, dominant and masculine - and as the best romantic partners, either for a fling or a long-term relationships.

The findings of the experiment, carried out on British women aged 18 to 44, could explain the appeal of actors such as George Clooney and Brad Pitt who cultivate their unshaven look.

The explanation for the preference is not clear, but experts in human evolution say that that facial hair may be a signal of aggression because it boosts the apparent size of the lower jaw, emphasizing the teeth as weapons.

Psychologists at Northumbria University who carried out the new study believe that stubbly men may offer women the best worlds - not too strongly masculine, but mature and with the potential to grow a full beard.

The researchers carried out the study using computer technology to alter pictures of 15 men’s faces so that they displayed different degrees of hairiness. Five levels of facial hair were used - clean-shaven, light stubble, heavy stubble, light beard and full beard.


The pictures were shown to 76 women who were asked to rate them for masculinity, aggression, dominance, attractiveness, age, and social maturity. They were also asked how desirable each man would be as a short-term or long-term partner. Faces with full beards were judged to be the most masculine, aggressive and socially mature. They were also thought to look five years older.

They were rated the least attractive and the worst choice for a short-term relationship. Men with light beards were considered the most dominant. Those with light stubble were rated the most attractive and as the ideal romantic partner for the short or long term. Clean-shaven men finished bottom for masculinity, dominance, aggression, and social maturity, and they were the least favoured choice as a long-term partner. They came second-to-last for attractiveness.

Writing in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, the researchers conclude: “Facial hair, or beardedness, is a powerful sociosexual signal, and an obvious biological marker of sexual maturity.

"Facial hair may have been sexually selected by females on the basis of associated male success, despite its threatening appearance. Clean-shaven faces therefore may suggest appeasement, as well as being an obvious sign of sexual immaturity.

"Increasing levels of facial hair were associated with increased perceptions of aggression, in that bearded faces were perceived as being the most aggressive, whilst clean-shaven faces were rated as being the least aggressive. And as facial hair increased in a linear fashion, so did female ratings of masculinity and dominance.

"In desirability for a short-term relationship, a female preference for male faces with stubble or light beard was found, with clean-shaven and fully bearded faces being the least preferred. This indicates that females are not selecting faces displaying relatively high or low masculinity, but are rather preferring males who are clearly mature - post-pubertal - but not too masculinised. The same pattern was found for preferences for a long-term relationship."

The researchers now want to extend their study internationally. Dr Nick Neave, who carried out the study with Kerry Shields, said: "There are large cultural differences in perceptions of facial hair, and we are hoping to expand on this research by conducting a large-scale study assessing female perceptions of male facial hair in different in as many countries as possible."


Hmmmm.... I'm not sure about this... :laugh:
Stubble doesn't look bad aesthetically, I find, but any man who is actually going to be close to me needs to be clean-shaven because I have very sensitive skin and stubble can itch and burn.

[Tricky]

Stubble doesn't look bad aesthetically, I find, but any man who is actually going to be close to me needs to be clean-shaven because I have very sensitive skin and stubble can itch and burn.

I was just about to say the same thing about women.

[dragon wench]

lmao Tricky! :laugh:

So I take it this means you aren't having a torrid affair of the heart with the bearded lady at your local circus?

[Tricky]

I didn't know which side was up sometimes and she kept jamming the hedge clipper. It wasn't meant to be.

[sparky_kat]

:laugh::laugh::laugh: :laugh::laugh::laugh:

i was having a thought process after reading that article....... then i read the last 2 posts made. thought processes go bye bye

hedge clippers:laugh:..... tricky, i might have to buy a new keyboard now, as i had just started taking a drink when i read your last post. LMAO!! maintenance is a very important thing!!!! lol

[Xandax]

Ahh - must be because I shave so often that I'm single then. Discounting the fact that I'm weird - just shave less :mischief:.

Must remember this for my next date

[Tower_Master]

Alas, DW, I, too, have felt the pain that comes with a complete inability to grow facial hair (unless scraggly / unsightly neck beards count???). I dream of a world where one day, smooth-cheeked men may compete with our more Neanderthal-esque brethren free of prejudice!!!

Or, the day where Rogain comes out with a facial product. Either/or!

I didn't know which side was up sometimes and she kept jamming the hedge clipper. It wasn't meant to be.

You know, when I said "Bring me a shrubbery", that wasn't quite what I had in mind...

[Georgi]

Teeth as weapons..?

I thought this was going to be a thread about that feminist horror film Teeth...