THE MANE EFFECT:DOES HAIR LENGTH MATTER?

Yahira Lugo Honor’s Thesis

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine whether hair length effects perceptions of female attractiveness. According to Hinsz, Matz, & Patience (2001) hair tends to be thicker, healthier, and grows more quickly in younger women of reproductive age than in older women, suggesting hair cues such as length may signal female fecundity, and consequently increase perception of attractiveness. If hair length provides a unique signal of a woman’s attractiveness that is independent of facial cues, then it may be expected that a woman adorned with different hair lengths (short, long) presented in different views (frontal, back and profile views), would be rated as significantly more attractive when presented with long hair than short hair regardless of the view.

The Mane Effect

A woman’s physical appearance provides valuable information about her reproductive potential (Buss, 1988; 1995).

According to Hinsz, Matz, & Patience (2001) hair tends to be thicker, healthier, and grows more quickly in younger women of reproductive age than in older women (Etcoff, 1999), suggesting hair cues such as length may signal female fecundity, and consequently, attractiveness.

For instance, men tend to be attracted to women who appear youthful and healthy (Grammer & Thornhill, 1994).

Women who possess characteristics associated with youth and health, such as facial symmetry and a small waist-hip ratio, tend to be perceived as more physically attractive than those women lacking these features (Buss, 1988).

Hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to examine whether hair length and view influences perceptions of female attractiveness.

To test this hypothesis, in the current study participants will be presented with images from different angles (frontal view, back view, and profile views) of women with different hair lengths (short vs. long).

Expectations

If hair length provides a unique signal of a woman’s attractiveness, that is independent of facial cues, then it may be expected that women  adorned with different hair lengths (short, long) presented in different views (frontal, back, & profile), would be rated as significantly more attractive when presented with long hair than short hair regardless of the view

Previous Research

According to Kline et al., (2005) hair cues have also been linked with attractiveness. 

These investigators presented participants with images of the same women’s face with various hair lengths

They found that participants rated a woman with long hair as significantly more attractive than the same woman depicted with short hair.

Moreover no gender differences for attractiveness ratings were observed, indicating that both male and female participants rated a woman’s face as more attractive when adorned with longer hair.

These researchers argued the findings were consistent with an evolutionary perspective (Kline et al., 2005).

Methods

Participants will be required to view a photo of a woman and be required to rate the target’s attractiveness followed by completing demographic questions such as age, race, gender, income and schooling.

Participants and Settings

Participants( N=400) in the study included individual participants from Central Florida and Northwest Florida, 222 females and 198 males who were recruited to participate in this study.

The questionnaires were handed out indoors and outdoors during day between nine am and one pm and evening hours from four pm until midnight.

The setting for distribution varied in Panhandle and Central Florida.

Materials

Two target models presented in four views (front, back, left profile, right profile) were used in the study, with each participant viewing only one face in a particular view.

Each questionnaire packet contained a black and white photo of one of the two target models, with a Likert-type rating scale (anchors 1=least; 5=most) listed beneath the picture.

Measures

Hair length and head view were treated as between-subject independent variables in this study. 

Gender, a subject variable, was also included to examine gender differences in attractiveness ratings. The dependent variable was attractiveness ratings.

An analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the samples was used to examine the influence of hair length and view versus gender to determine perceptions of female attractiveness.

Designs and Procedures

Participants were then required to rate the target model’s attractiveness followed by completing the demographic questions

Likert type ratings 8 short hair pics & 8 long hair pics

Images

Results: THE MANE EFFECT

  ANOVA (2 hair length X 4 views X 2 gender) performed on the attractiveness ratings data yielded a significant main effect for hair length, F (1,381) =201.26; p<.01,

which showed that participants rated a woman with long hair (M=3.92, SD=1.07) as significantly more attractive than the same woman adorned with short (M=2.42, SD=.96)

Mane Effect

Post Hoc Comparison

that participants rated a woman depicted in a right profile view (M=3.43; SD=1.06) as significantly more attractive than the same woman depicted from a back view (M=2.89; SD=1.45) when no facial cues were available.

2way Interaction

Other Results

There were no differences in attractiveness ratings for target models presented in the front view (M=3.13; SD=1.31) or a left profile view (M=3.23; SD=1.15).

The main effect for gender as well as interaction effects were not significant

Demographics/Serendipitous finding’s

An ANOVA (2 gender X 5 preference for partner's hair length) performed on the attractiveness ratings data revealed a significant main effect for preference of partner's hair length, F(4,376)=2.90; p<.02, indicating that participants preferences for hair length of their partner's influenced their attractiveness ratings in this study.

significant gender by preference for partner's hair length interaction was also observed

Discussion

The purpose of this study was to examine whether hair length and view influences perceptions of female attractiveness.

The results clearly showed that participants rated a woman adorned with long hair as significantly more attractive than the same woman depicted with short hair.

Socio-culture perspective

While the data are supportive of an evolutionary perspective, it is also possible that the findings may be explained from a socio-cultural perspective (Mesko & Bereckei, 2006).

Limitations

Diversity

Image control (e.g. wigs, software)

Future Goals of study

help marketing companies local businesses interested in

expanding their advertising to attain more consumers’ attention

More interest into this topic Spiking interest into the science

based field of Evolutionary Psychology

Questions??????

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE HARD WORK Dr. Kelley Kline, Thesis Director Dr. Jeff Rudski, Thesis Committee Dr. Tom Kelley, Thesis Committee Melissa Hennion, Primary Research

Assistant

Laura Annette Adams, Research Assistant Jessica Minch, Research Assistant Christina “Amy” McGowan, Research Assistant