Facial Metrics Predict Behavioural Aggression In The Laboratory And In Varsity And Professional Ice Hockey Players

The facial width-to-height ratio is larger in men than in women, and the sex difference emerges at puberty as testosterone concentrations increase.


We investigated the extent to which this facial characteristic predicted aggressive behaviour, which also has been linked to testosterone. In the lab-based study, the facial ratio predicted the extent of aggression in men, but not in women.


For male varsity and professional hockey players, the facial ratio also predicted aggressive behaviour as measured by the number of penalty minutes per game. These findings suggest that facial structure may have been shaped by evolution as an "honest signal" of propensity for aggressive behaviour.


Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences


Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.


Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences