Do Men's Faces Really Signal Heritable Immunocompetence?

The document critically examines the immunocompetence hypothesis, which posits that masculine facial features in men are indicators of heritable immunocompetence and contribute to male attractiveness. The authors argue that the evidence for this hypothesis is overstated and that there are significant difficulties, such as inconsistent findings, lack of cross-cultural support, and alternative explanations like intrasexual signaling. They conclude that the immunocompetence perspective on masculinity remains speculative and encourage researchers to explore other perspectives and traits in human mate preferences. The document also discusses the mixed evidence regarding women's preferences for masculine traits, the preliminary nature of the masculinity/investment trade-off, and the inconsistencies in findings related to menstrual cycle variations in preferences. It suggests that current condition may be a more relevant cue for mate choice than past immunity in humans. The paper concludes that while the immunocompetence hypothesis is logical, its popularity may be unwarranted given the evidence, and that masculinity may convey more information about competitiveness than heritable health. The authors call for more research to distinguish between competing hypotheses and for more ecologically valid studies to understand the traits that contribute to attractiveness, stating that the immunocompetence hypothesis should not be accepted without stronger evidence.