TY - JOUR
T1 - Immune function during early adolescence positively predicts adult facial sexual dimorphism in both men and women
AU - Foo, Yong Zhi
AU - Simmons, Leigh W.
AU - Perrett, David I.
AU - Holt, Patrick G.
AU - Eastwood, Peter R.
AU - Rhodes, Gillian
PY - 2020/5
Y1 - 2020/5
N2 - Evolutionary theories suggest that humans prefer sexual dimorphism in faces because masculinity in men and femininity in women may be an indicator of immune function during development. In particular, the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis proposes that sexual dimorphism indicates good immune function during development because the sex hormones, particularly testosterone in men, required for the development of sexually dimorphic facial features also taxes the immune system. Therefore, only healthy males can afford the high level of testosterone for the development of sexually dimorphic traits without compromising their survival. Researchers have suggested that a similar mechanism via the effects of oestrogen might also explain male preferences for female femininity. Despite the prominence of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis, no studies have tested whether immune function during development predicts adult facial sexual dimorphism. Here, using data from a longitudinal public health dataset, the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study (Generation 2), we show that some aspects of immune function during early adolescence (14 years) positively predict sexually dimorphic 3D face shape in both men and women. Our results support a fundamental assumption that facial sexual dimorphism is an indicator of immune function during the development of facial sexual dimorphism.
AB - Evolutionary theories suggest that humans prefer sexual dimorphism in faces because masculinity in men and femininity in women may be an indicator of immune function during development. In particular, the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis proposes that sexual dimorphism indicates good immune function during development because the sex hormones, particularly testosterone in men, required for the development of sexually dimorphic facial features also taxes the immune system. Therefore, only healthy males can afford the high level of testosterone for the development of sexually dimorphic traits without compromising their survival. Researchers have suggested that a similar mechanism via the effects of oestrogen might also explain male preferences for female femininity. Despite the prominence of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis, no studies have tested whether immune function during development predicts adult facial sexual dimorphism. Here, using data from a longitudinal public health dataset, the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study (Generation 2), we show that some aspects of immune function during early adolescence (14 years) positively predict sexually dimorphic 3D face shape in both men and women. Our results support a fundamental assumption that facial sexual dimorphism is an indicator of immune function during the development of facial sexual dimorphism.
KW - Facial attractiveness
KW - Immunocompetence handicap hypothesis
KW - Sexual dimorphism
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85081281349&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/211912
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/403981
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/323200
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/572613
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/403981
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/403968
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/003209
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/1027449
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/1044840
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/1021855
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/CE110001021
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/DP110104594
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/DP0877379
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/DP130102300
U2 - 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.02.002
DO - 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.02.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85081281349
VL - 41
SP - 199
EP - 209
JO - Evolution and Human Behavior
JF - Evolution and Human Behavior
SN - 1090-5138
IS - 3
ER -