Relational insecurity heightens sensitivity to limbal rings in partnered women

Abstract

AbstractLimbal rings augment perceived facial health and attractiveness. We thus expected sensitivity to their presence would depend on motives to seek alternative relationship partners among those feeling insecure about a current pairbond. Despite partnered women's relative insensitivity to good gene cues, partnered women feeling relationally dissatisfied might heighten acuity toward limbal rings. We primed single and partnered women with secure or insecure attachment before evaluating the health of male and female faces with and without limbal rings. Insecurity‐primed partnered women demonstrated greater perceptual acuity toward limbal rings than security‐primed partnered women; this sensitivity was reduced in single women. Findings contribute to literature implicating limbal rings as a health cue, demonstrating how dissatisfaction of mating goals modulates preferences for facial features.