Bad to the bone: facial structure predicts unethical behaviour
Bad to the bone: facial structure predicts unethical behaviour
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DOI：
10.1098/rspb.2011.1193
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发表时间：
2012-02-07
影响因子：
4.7
通讯作者：
Wong, Elaine M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Haselhuhn, Michael P.;Wong, Elaine M.
研究人员跨越许多科学领域，包括灵长类动物学，进化生物学和心理学，试图建立一个道德的进化基础。虽然研究人员已经确定了支持道德行为的社会和认知适应，但已经达成共识，即基因决定的身体特征并不是不道德意图或行为的可靠信号。支持这一观点，我们表明，遗传决定的身体特征可以作为可靠的预测不道德的行为，如果他们也与积极的信号在雌雄同体和内选择。具体来说，我们确定了一个关键的物理属性，面部宽高比，它预测了男性的不道德行为。在两项研究中，我们证明了面部较宽（相对于面部高度）的男性更有可能在谈判中明确欺骗对方，并且更愿意作弊以增加他们的经济收益。重要的是，我们提供的证据表明，面部指标和不道德行为之间的联系是由心理上的权力感介导的。我们的结果表明，静态物理属性确实可以作为不道德行为的可靠线索，并为进化力量塑造道德判断和行为的观点提供了额外的支持。
Researchers spanning many scientific domains, including primatology, evolutionary biology and psychology, have sought to establish an evolutionary basis for morality. While researchers have identified social and cognitive adaptations that support ethical behaviour, a consensus has emerged that genetically determined physical traits are not reliable signals of unethical intentions or actions. Challenging this view, we show that genetically determined physical traits can serve as reliable predictors of unethical behaviour if they are also associated with positive signals in intersex and intrasex selection. Specifically, we identify a key physical attribute, the facial width-to-height ratio, which predicts unethical behaviour in men. Across two studies, we demonstrate that men with wider faces (relative to facial height) are more likely to explicitly deceive their counterparts in a negotiation, and are more willing to cheat in order to increase their financial gain. Importantly, we provide evidence that the link between facial metrics and unethical behaviour is mediated by a psychological sense of power. Our results demonstrate that static physical attributes can indeed serve as reliable cues of immoral action, and provide additional support for the view that evolutionary forces shape ethical judgement and behaviour.