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Study Debunks Facial Ratio as Aggression Predictor

2/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The study led by Alex L. Jones (lead researcher) and published in Evolution and Human Behavior finds that facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) is not a reliable predictor of aggression or dominance.
The researchers propose bizygomatic width, a simple facial width measure, may reflect biology better than fWHR.
Using Bayesian statistics and controlling for body size, this study finds men have wider faces than women, and fWHR is shaped by geometry.

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Story summary

The study led by Alex L. Jones (lead researcher) and published in Evolution and Human Behavior finds that facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) is not a reliable predictor of aggression or dominance.
The researchers propose bizygomatic width, a simple facial width measure, may reflect biology better than fWHR.
Using Bayesian statistics and controlling for body size, this study finds men have wider faces than women, and fWHR is shaped by geometry.