Women spot ideal fathers at a glance
Julie Wheldon
Daily Mail - UK
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Women can work out whether a man will make a good father just by looking at his face, research shows.
Simply studying a photograph can give them subconscious clues that he likes children - and would therefore be a good long-term partner.
Scientists behind the discovery believe it adds an important dimension to knowledge about mate selection among humans.
Experts say women judge a man on his genetic quality and also his willingness to be a good parent for her offspring.
Studies have shown they use masculine features as a guide to genetic quality. When at their most fertile, they are particularly attracted to men with features such as strong jaws.
However at other times of the month, women prefer more feminine faces as softer features suggest a man will be a good long-term partner and help care for any offspring.
Researchers at St Andrews University have even come up with the face of the perfect man, whose softer feminised features reflected a more nurturing side.
By studying what appealed to women, they concluded that the ideal partner should have a symmetrical face, large deep and expressive eyes, with a straight nose and soft jaw.
This suggests that when it comes to father material, most women would chose Jude Law over the more rugged Arnold Schwarzenegger.
May 10, 2006
Julie Wheldon
Daily Mail - UK
___________
Women can work out whether a man will make a good father just by looking at his face, research shows.
Simply studying a photograph can give them subconscious clues that he likes children - and would therefore be a good long-term partner.
Scientists behind the discovery believe it adds an important dimension to knowledge about mate selection among humans.
Experts say women judge a man on his genetic quality and also his willingness to be a good parent for her offspring.
Studies have shown they use masculine features as a guide to genetic quality. When at their most fertile, they are particularly attracted to men with features such as strong jaws.
However at other times of the month, women prefer more feminine faces as softer features suggest a man will be a good long-term partner and help care for any offspring.
Researchers at St Andrews University have even come up with the face of the perfect man, whose softer feminised features reflected a more nurturing side.
By studying what appealed to women, they concluded that the ideal partner should have a symmetrical face, large deep and expressive eyes, with a straight nose and soft jaw.
This suggests that when it comes to father material, most women would chose Jude Law over the more rugged Arnold Schwarzenegger.
May 10, 2006
