Facial morphology predicts male fitness and rank but not survival in Second World War Finnish soldiers

2013/05/08 by John Loehr, Robert B. O’Hara · 1 citation
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior #Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences

paper · pdf · doi:10.1098/rsbl.2013.0049

openalex publication_date 2013/05/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/08

Abstract

We investigated fitness, military rank and survival of facial phenotypes in large-scale warfare using 795 Finnish soldiers who fought in the Winter War (1939-1940). We measured facial width-to-height ratio-a trait known to predict aggressive behaviour in males-and assessed whether facial morphology could predict survival, lifetime reproductive success (LRS) and social status. We found no difference in survival along the phenotypic gradient, however, wider-faced individuals had greater LRS, but achieved a lower military rank.

Citations

• Evolutionary Psychology of Facial Attractiveness
• Testosterone and dominance in men
• Body weight, not facial width-to-height ratio, predicts aggression in pro hockey players

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• Vapautemme hinta [wikipedia]

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