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E. Oberzaucher Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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S. Katina Department of Anthropology and Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia

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S. F. Schmehl Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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I. J. Holzleitner Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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I. Mehu-Blantar Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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K. Grammer Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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Abstract

In recent years, evidence has been gathered indicating increased attractiveness of female faces at the point of ovulation. In this paper, we asked what changes in facial appearance occur during menstrual cycle that lead to this shift in attractiveness. We analysed facial photographs of 20 young women with a normal cycle. We found evidence for textural changes, as well as shape changes that might account for the ovulatory peak in attractiveness. Generally, facial shape at ovulation is perceived as more attractive — and ovulating women are perceived as more attractive the closer their face shape is to the “ovulation shape”. These findings support the hypothesis that attractive signals might be rooted in signals of fertility.

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Journal of Evolutionary Psychology 
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation
2007 (2003)
Publication
Programme
changed title
Volumes
per Year
 
Issues
per Year
 
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address
H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address
H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher
Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 1789-2082 (Print)
ISSN 2060-5587 (Online)