Covariation between formidability inferences and perceptions of men's preferred humor styles

Abstract

Individuals infer men's formidability through various facial and bodily features. Such inferences covary with perceptions of men's personalities and motivational states, potentially informing subsequent affiliative decisions. Within these inferences could be an implicit understanding of men's preferred humor styles. Across four studies, this research considered perceptions of men's proclivity to employ four humor styles through different formidability cues: upper body strength (Study 1), muscularity (Study 2), facial width-to-height ratio (Study 3), and neck musculature (Study 4). A relatively consistent perception emerged of formidable men as more likely to use aggressive humor. Conversely, an absence of formidability cues elicited perceptions of increased likelihood to use self-defeating humor. We interpret results from an evolutionary perspective for how individuals can identify behavioral strategies through morphological features.