Masculine voices signal men's threat potential in forager and industrial societies

Humans and many non-human primates exhibit large sexual dimorphisms in vocalizations and vocal anatomy. In humans, same-sex competitors and potential mates attend to acoustic features of male vocalizations, but vocal masculinity especially increases perceptions of physical prowess. Yet, the information content of male vocalizations remains obscure. We therefore examined relationships between sexually dimorphic acoustic properties and men's threat potential. We first introduce a new measure of the structure of vocal formant frequencies, ‘formant position’ ( P f ), which we show is more sexually dimorphic and more strongly related to height than is the most widely used measure of formant structure, ‘formant dispersion’, in both a US sample and a sample of Hadza foragers from Tanzania. We also show large sexual dimorphisms in the mean fundamental frequency ( F 0 ) and the within-utterance standard deviation in F 0 ( F 0 − s.d.) in both samples. We then explore relationships between these acoustic parameters and men's body size, strength, testosterone and physical aggressiveness. Each acoustic parameter was related to at least one measure of male threat potential. The most dimorphic parameters, F 0 and P f , were most strongly related to body size in both samples. In the US sample, F 0 predicted testosterone levels, P f predicted upper body strength and F 0 − s.d. predicted physical aggressiveness.

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No clear evidence for correlations between handgrip strength and sexually dimorphic acoustic properties of voices

10.1101/227165 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chengyang Han ◽

Hongyi Wang ◽

Vanessa Fasolt ◽

Amanda C Hahn ◽

Iris J Holzleitner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Standard Deviation ◽

Vocal Tract ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Acoustic Properties ◽

Upper Body ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Physical Strength ◽

Signal Value ◽

Body Strength ◽

Upper Body Strength

AbstractObjectivesRecent research on the signal value of masculine physical characteristics in men has focused on the possibility that such characteristics are valid cues of physical strength. However, evidence that sexually dimorphic vocal characteristics are correlated with physical strength is equivocal. Consequently, we undertook a further test for possible relationships between physical strength and masculine vocal characteristics.MethodsWe tested the putative relationships between White UK (N=115) and Chinese (N=106) participants’ handgrip strength (a widely used proxy for general upper-body strength) and five sexually dimorphic acoustic properties of voices: fundamental frequency (F0), fundamental frequency’s standard deviation (F0-SD), formant dispersion (Df), formant position (Pf), and estimated vocal-tract length (VTL).ResultsAnalyses revealed no clear evidence that stronger individuals had more masculine voices.ConclusionsOur results do not support the hypothesis that masculine vocal characteristics are a valid cue of physical strength.

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Secular trends in health-related physical fitness among 11–14-year-old Croatian children and adolescents from 1999 to 2014

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-90745-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mario Kasović ◽

Lovro Štefan ◽

Vilko Petrić

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Upper Body ◽

Lower Body ◽

Body Strength ◽

Health Related ◽

Upper Body Strength ◽

Lower Body Power

AbstractThe main purpose of the study was to analyze secular trends of health-related physical fitness in 7–14-year-old Croatian children and adolescents from 1999 and 2014. In this observational cross-sectional study, we recruited 5077 children and adolescents between ages 11 and 14 (50.8% girls) from five primary schools located in the capital city of Zagreb. Physical fitness performance was tested from 1999 until 2014. Physical fitness performance included: (1) body-mass index (measure of body size), (2) standing broad jump (measure of lower-body power), (3) polygon backwards (measure of general coordination and agility), (4) sit-ups in 60 s (measure of upper-body strength), (5) sit-and-reach test (measure of flexibility) and (6) 6-min run test (measure of cardiorespiratory fitness). Boys performed better in all physical fitness tests, except for sit-and-reach test (p < 0.001). In boys, between 1999 and 2014, body size, upper-body strength and coordination/agility increased, while flexibility, lower-body power and cardiorespiratory fitness decreased. During the same period, girls experienced an increase in body size, lower-body power, upper-body strength, coordination/agility and flexibility, while cardiorespiratory fitness decreased. This study shows that cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility and coordination/agility decrease, while upper-body strength increases in both sexes. These findings should serve as an avenue for national monitoring system to screen and track biological development in children and adolescents.

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Aerobic fitness, upper-body strength and agility predict performance on an occupational physical ability test among police officers while wearing personal protective equipment

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness ◽

10.23736/s0022-4707.19.09482-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 59 (11) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eduardo Frio Marins ◽

Leo Cabistany ◽

Charles Bartel ◽

J. Jay Dawes ◽

Fabrício Boscolo Del Vecchio

Keyword(s):

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Police Officers ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Upper Body ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Physical Ability ◽

Ability Test ◽

Body Strength ◽

Upper Body Strength

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Influences of Differing Menarche Status on Motor Capabilities of Girls, 13 To 16 Years: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18115539 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 5539

Author(s):

Barry Gerber ◽

Anita E. Pienaar ◽

Ankebe Kruger

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Upper Body ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Motor Fitness ◽

Body Strength ◽

The Status ◽

Hand Eye Coordination ◽

Upper Body Strength ◽

D Values

Puberty and the onset of menarche influences the motor performance of girls. However, the magnitude of these influences during varying maturity status, is not clear. This longitudinal study over two years aimed to investigate differences in motor fitness between early and late developing girls based on pre- and post-menarche status. A convenience sample (n = 58) of girls aged 13.51 ± 3.51, divided by means of the Status Quo method into pre (n = 13) and post-menarche (n = 45) groups, was used. Motor fitness was tested once annually by standardized protocols. Basic statistics, independent t-testing and a repeated measures ANOVA with a post hoc Bonferonni correction were used (p < 0.05 = statistical significance). Effect sizes were determined by Cohen’s d-values. Only explosive upper body strength differed significantly between groups during baseline, favoring post-menarche girls. Initially, post-menarche girls showed advantages in hand-eye coordination and speed (p > 0.05) with pre-menarche girls performing better in agility and explosive leg strength (p > 0.05). At 15.51 years, no significant, between-group differences were found. Pre-menarche girls surpassed post-menarche girls in hand-eye coordination and 0–40 m speed and post-menarche girls displayed higher explosive leg and upper body strength scores (p > 0.05). Our data show that the potential to excel in sport based on motor capabilities can only be accurately estimated 1–2 years after reaching menarche.

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EFFECT OF A 10-WEEK MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAM ON UPPER BODY STRENGTH IN MALE AND FEMALE RECRUITS

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/00005768-198504000-00069 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 195 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

L. E. M. Hart ◽

C. L. Allen ◽

K. M. Cox

Keyword(s):

Training Program ◽

Military Training ◽

Upper Body ◽

Male And Female ◽

Body Strength ◽

Upper Body Strength

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An Eye Tracking Examination of Men’s Attractiveness by Conceptive Risk Women

Evolutionary Psychology ◽

10.1177/1474704917690741 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 147470491769074 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ray Garza ◽

Roberto R. Heredia ◽

Anna B. Cieślicka

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Mexican American ◽

Hispanic Women ◽

Fat Distribution ◽

Upper Body ◽

Body Hair ◽

Body Strength ◽

Upper Body Strength ◽

Visual Attraction ◽

Physical Shape

Previous research has indicated that women prefer men who exhibit an android physical appearance where fat distribution is deposited on the upper body (i.e., shoulders and arms) and abdomen. This ideal physical shape has been associated with perceived dominance, health, and immunocompetence. Although research has investigated attractability of men with these ideal characteristics, research on how women visually perceive these characteristics is limited. The current study investigated visual perception and attraction toward men in Hispanic women of Mexican American descent. Women exposed to a front-posed image, where the waist-to-chest ratio (WCR) and hair distribution were manipulated, rated men’s body image associated with upper body strength (low WCR 0.7) as more attractive. Additionally, conceptive risk did not play a strong role in attractiveness and visual attention. Hair distribution did not contribute to increased ratings of attraction but did contribute to visual attraction when measuring total time where men with both facial and body hair were viewed longer. These findings suggest that physical characteristics in men exhibiting upper body strength and dominance are strong predictors of visual attraction.

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Comparison of upper body strength gains between men and women after 10 weeks of resistance training

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.1627 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e1627 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Paulo Gentil ◽

James Steele ◽

Maria C. Pereira ◽

Rafael P.M. Castanheira ◽

Antonio Paoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Resistance Training ◽

Peak Torque ◽

Elbow Flexor ◽

Upper Body ◽

Men And Women ◽

Body Strength ◽

Before And After ◽

Upper Body Strength ◽

Few Data ◽

Flexor Strength

Resistance training (RT) offers benefits to both men and women. However, the studies about the differences between men and women in response to an RT program are not conclusive and few data are available about upper body strength response. The aim of this study was to compare elbow flexor strength gains in men and women after 10 weeks of RT. Forty-four college-aged men (22.63 ± 2.34 years) and forty-seven college-aged women (21.62 ± 2.96 years) participated in the study. The RT program was performed two days a week for 10 weeks. Before and after the training period, peak torque (PT) of the elbow flexors was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer. PT values were higher in men in comparison to women in pre- and post-tests (p< 0.01). Both males and females significantly increased elbow flexor strength (p< 0.05); however, strength changes did not differ between genders after 10 weeks of RT program (11.61 and 11.76% for men and women, respectively;p> 0.05). Effect sizes were 0.57 and 0.56 for men and women, respectively. In conclusion, the present study suggests that men and women have a similar upper body strength response to RT.

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