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The content discussed here is an absolute premiere in the forum since there aren't any similar postings relating to this book or its general topic in a more scientific approached manner.
Essentially, this Edward Dutton fellow, an extremely controversial british anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist, published a book in 2019 titled "How to judge people by what they look like". In his 90ish pages work, he draws various connections between different physical traits (height, facial features, body, and lots more - scroll below for the entire list) with aspects of personality, behavior, and intelligence - his conclusions are based upon evolutionary psychology and anecdotal evidence such as scientifical papers, alongside his lifelong works.
In this in-depth mega guide, I will summarize and break down the main points discussed in his book since it's extremely blackpilled and useful for interpreting people and their doings/intentions, confirms PSL theories stated many years ago, and is an interesting and relevant topic altogether.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents
#1 Height
#2 Skin color
#3 Hair color
#4 Tattoos
#5 Facial symmetry
#6 Facial width-to-height ratio
#7 Eye size and shape
#8 Nose size and shape
#9 Mouth size and shape
#10 Eyebrow thickness and shape
#11 Jawline and chin
#12 Waist-to-hip ratio
#13 Non-verbal cues and body language
#14 Handwriting (graphology)
#15 Voice pitch and tone
#16 Posture and gait
#17 Handedness - left-handed or right-handed
#18 Quotes from the book on various topics: physiognomy, face symmetry, peacock tail analogy, spatial IQ and testosterone, neuroticism and body type correlation, testosterone and height correlation, height and IQ, nose size and IQ, facial features criminals have in common, cranium size and IQ, hair loss, pupil size and IQ, the gaydar, 2D:4D digit ratio linked with testosterone, male-female friendship, atheism and religousness, homosexuality and mental instability, child upbringing and testosterone, republicans and liberals facial attractiveness, plastic surgery and neuroticism.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#1 Height
Taller individuals are often perceived as having higher social status and greater power. This perception probably stems from evolutionary psychology, where height
theoretically is seen as a major capability in providing protection and resources - by result people might unconsciously give more respect to taller individuals - this also translates to leadership potential, where these same individuals are more likely perceived to be leaders and obtain leadership positions more often since height is correlated with confidence, assertiveness, and dominance. Taller people, particularly men, are often considered more attractive by females due to evolutionary factors, where taller individuals are seen as healthier and better able to provide resources, where recent studies show a correlation between height and income - and higher success in their career path (both men and women). Height can also be seen as an indicator of health and nutrition during developing years, being perceived as healthier and more athletic, gaining advantages in sports and various physically demanding activities - it is often seen as well that taller people are seen as more capable and confident, while those on the shorter side are less competent and assertive. Taller people are also higher IQ than shorter individuals, on average.
#2 Skin color
Surprisingly he talks very little about skin color but in a nutshell he covers that individuals with darker skin may be perceived as more aggressive and less intelligent due to "societal stereotypes" while those with lighter skin tones might be seen as more attractive - he also talks about implicit bias which refers to the unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that people hold about certain racial groups, and that light skin people are more prone to sunburn and skin cancer while dark skins are likely to experience vitamin D deficiency (pretty water but whatever).
#3 Hair color
Dutton suggests that blonde hair is often associated with youthfulness and beauty - individuals with dyed hair are perceived as more rebellious and non-conforming.
He doesn't conclude on a definitive agreement where darker or lighter hair is more desirable.
Lighter hair is perceived as more affluent while darker hair as less financially privileged.
Black hair is associated with mystery and being more alluring.
Apparently he states that redheads are seen as more passionate and temperamental, where blondes are seen as less intelligent and naive - interestingly enough there's a Dutch saying that goes "Rood haar en groene ogen, God behoede ons voor hun vervloekte leugens," which translates to "Red hair and green eyes, may God protect us from their cursed lies."
Finally, individuals with red hair might be more susceptible to certain health conditions, while those with blonde hair might have a genetic predisposition for certain physical traits - color might be viewed differently based on an individual's gender as well, so for example, women with blonde hair might be perceived as more sexually attractive, while men with blonde hair might be seen as less masculine (absolutely over for nordcucks).
#4 Tattoos
Tattoos might be associated with criminality, particularly in prison culture. Tattoos serve as a form of signaling among inmates, indicating affiliation with certain groups or gangs - tattoos might as well signal that an individual is a member of a certain tribe or community, or that they have successfully endured the pain of getting a tattoo (peacock analogy).
Tattoos are associated with risk-taking behavior, such as drug use or criminality.
Women are more likely to get tattoos that are small, colorful, or located in non-visible areas, while men might be more likely to get tattoos that are larger or located on visible areas like their arms or chest.
#5 Facial symmetry
This is an interesting one. Research shows that humans tend to find symmetrical faces more attractive, and this preference is thought to be rooted in evolutionary biology. Button explains that facial symmetry is associated with various factors, such as greater perceived health, since developmental stability leads to greater symmetry (more attractive).
People with more symmetrical faces are perceived as more trustworthy, competent, and socially outgoing, as well as more intelligent.
More prone to being leaders.
Asymmetrical face expressions' can more often be misinterpreted than symmetrical faces ones', being seen as less genuine.
Hormonal imbalances during puberty can worsen facial symmetry.
Higher symmetry is correlated to more conscientiousness, emotional stability and extroversion, higher self-esteem, confidence and IQ. This is probably due to the positive feedback reinforcement loop but has a genetic play into it.
#6 Facial width-to-height ratio
FWHR is calculated by dividing the distance between the cheekbones (bizygomatic width) by the distance between the upper lip and brow (upper face height).
Edward states that individuals with higher FWHR are seen as more aggressive and dominant. This has been observed across different cultures and is probably biologically based.
By association, lower FWHR faces are seen as more trustworthy - this may be explained due to the association with a more "baby face" appearance.
High FWHR individuals are more likely to be seen as leaders - on average, males have a higher FWHR ratio than women.
Higher levels of testosterone are linked to higher FWHR, which may explain the connection with dominance and aggression.
There isn't a complete agreement on FWHR attractiveness, since studies have shown mixed results. Although, on average, it is suggested that a slightly above-average FWHR is deemed as most attractive.
Individuals with higher FWHR might be perceived as expressing anger or assertiveness more intensely, while those with lower FWHR might be seen as having more approachable or friendly expressions (just be a cuck theory).
Men with higher FWHR are more likely to achieve financial and professional success in their careers.
#7 Eye size and shape
Kinda goes against the muh hunter eyes obsession on here but whatever
Larger eyes are often perceived as more attractive, especially in women. This preference may stem from the association of large eyes with youthfulness and fertility, which are evolutionarily advantageous traits. Larger eyes are also seen as more trustworthy and approachable. Smaller and more narrow eyes are seen as less trustworthy and more guarded.
Larger eyes are correlated to more emotional expression intensity, being seen as more open, warm and sociable, while smaller eyes are seen as more reserved, introverted and cautious.
The babyface effect is reported when people with larger, rounder eyes and other childlike facial features (high neoteny) are often perceived as more innocent, naive, and submissive. This is due to an innate tendency to associate childlike features with vulnerability and the need for protection.
#8 Nose size and shape
People with larger or more prominent noses are perceived as more assertive or dominant, while those with smaller noses are seen as more delicate or submissive. This goes in hand with the fact that certain nose shapes may be perceived as more or less friendly, approachable, or trustworthy as well.
Environment adaptation plays a big role. Populations living in colder climates developed narrower noses to help warm and humidify the air before it enters the lungs, while populations in warmer regions evolved broader noses for better cooling and airflow.
#9 Mouth size and shape
Fuller lips are seen as more attractive in general.
People with larger mouths are better at communicating their feelings non-verbally, while those with smaller or less expressive mouths are perceived as more reserved or emotionally guarded. Following the same logic, people with fuller lips are seen as more outgoing, talkative and assertive, while the opposite profile is seen as more introverted or cautious.
On average, people with fuller lips talk more than those without.
Tooth loss or gum disease impacts the appearance of the mouth, and subconscious judging of these indicators is seen for health-related issues.
Depending on your profile, having fuller lips is not always the best scenario. A well-proportioned mouth that compensates other features for optimal facial harmony and balance is key. Take a 1.6 lip-width-to-nose ratio as ideal.
Smiling resonates with an approachable, friendly and high-trust profile.
#10 Eyebrow thickness and shape
Smaller eyebrows communicate less expression than large ones. This correlates to emotional guard.
A positively tilted and thicker eyebrow translates to more assertiveness and dominance, while negatively tilted and thinner eyebrows are seen as delicate and submissive.
Men have thicker and straighter eyebrows, while women have them more arched and thinner.
#11 Jawline and chin
A strong, well-defined jawline is more attractive, especially for men, across all cultures - it's a strong health indicator. Weak chins are correlated to poor health and hormonal issues.
Men tend to have broader and angular jaws and chins while women have softer and rounder features (inward gonions). This contributes to the perceptions of masculinity/feminity and also has a role in assertiveness/submissiveness.
#12 Waist-to-hip ratio
WHR is the ratio of the circumference of the waist to the circumference of the hips
For women, a healthy WHR is less than or equal to 0.85 and for men it is less 0.9. Although various studies have shown that a WHR ratio of 0.6 for women still seems attractive and possibly even a bit lower. A low WHR is generally associated with a lower risk of health issues, while a high WHR can increase the risk of health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer and sleep apnea.
Low WHR in women is associated with higher fertility rates.
#13 Non-verbal cues and body language
Edward also delves into body language and non verbal communication. One of the strongest topics discussed is eye contact - a strong eye contact is an indicator of confidence, honesty and trustworthiness - these people are seen as more reliable and credible from those who avoid eye contact as much as possible, almost as they have something to hide. This is observed as well for mirroring.
Pupil dilatation is a big sign as well - it can provide important clues about a person's emotional state. Our pupils dilate when looking at something that we like or are interested in.
Someone who speaks with their hands are seen as more expressive and passionate, as well as higher trust. By avoiding hand gestures you are seen as reserved and shy, an outcast.
Timing is essential. When talking to someone, observe their in-time reactions to your actions - e.g, is someone crosses their arms after being asked a question might have felt offended, while someone who increases their voice pitch during a situation expresses an excitement for the conversation.
Lastly, a firm handshake indicates confidence and sincerity, while a limp handshake indicates insincerity.
#14 Handwriting (graphology)
Take this one with a grain of salt since it's literally pseudocience albeit it is quite interesting. Handwriting analysis or graphology studies the implications that the way we write on paper translates personality-wise. The book mentions this and gives us some insights into its main points:
Large handwriting is associated with outgoing, expressive personalities, while small handwriting indicates introversion or a detail-oriented nature;
A rightward slant suggests openess and sociability, while a leftward slant indicates introversion or a tendency to be more reserved. No slant implies logic, pragmatism and balance;
Heavy pressure when writing signifies strong emotions, determination, or even aggression, while light pressure suggests sensitivity, a gentle nature, or a lack of confidence;
Clear, legible handwriting means that you're a straightforward, organized individual, while illegible handwriting indicates a more chaotic or secretive personality;
Fast handwriting reveals impatience or a quick-thinking mind, while slow handwriting suggests careful deliberation or a tendency towards perfectionism. Funnily enough fast handwriting has been linked to higher IQs as well;
The presence of loops and curls in letters is an indication of creativity and artistic tendencies. On the other hand, angular or straight letters suggest a more analytical and logical mind;
A legible signature implies transparency and honesty, while an illegible one is associated with a desire for privacy or a need to keep aspects of oneself hidden;
Embellishments, such as underlining, circles, or extra strokes, can be interpreted as a sign of confidence or a desire for attention;
A smooth, flowing handwriting indicates a more harmonious and emotionally balanced individual, whereas erratic or inconsistent writing suggests a person who experiences frequent mood swings or emotional turmoil;
A high T-bar indicates high self-esteem and ambition, while a low T-bar implies a lack of confidence or self-doubt. A long T-bar suggests determination and enthusiasm, whereas a short T-bar lacks motivation and persistence.
#15 Voice pitch and tone
Edward states that voice pitch and tone are effective tools for expressing emotions or conveying a specific attitude. A high pitch emphasizes excitement and a lower one conveys seriousness. Understanding the various nuances in each different social context are crucial. A steady, clear, and well-modulated voice is credible and trustworthy, as it conveys confidence and control. In contrast, a wavering high-pitched and cracking voice causes the opposite effect.
It is important to modulate voice to fit in various contexts, such as speaking gently to a child or using a commanding tone in a leadership role, since this adaptability resembles a skilled communicator - those who maintaing a calm and steady voice during stressful situations are seen and more emotionally resilient and better leaders as well.
People tend to unconsciously mirror the voice pitch and tone of others in conversation. Mirroring is crucial since by doing it you're seen as more approachable, likable, and in tune with the context. This also happens when talking to the opposite gender, by which females will naturally talk in a higher pitch to males, and males will deepen their voice when talking to females as a evolutionary mating strategy.
A thin nasal voice is associated with insecurity, anxiety and fatigue. A resonant, full voice suggests vitality. In the same way, vocal fry is linked to a lack of professionalism, while uptalk is seen as a sign of insecurity.
#16 Posture and gait
This is pretty water but still relevant - posture and gait conveys a sense of dominance or submission in social interactions. A person who stands tall and walks confidently is perceived as more dominant, high energy-driven, engaged and passionate, while someone who slouches or adopts a submissive posture is seen as more compliant or deferential, less interested and tired.Individuals who consistently maintain good posture and move with purpose are seen as more self-aware, while those who are less mindful of their posture may come across as distracted or disengaged - a tip for this is to always walk pointing towards a direction and a place you want to arrive to - by doing this and setting and aiming for a specific destination your walk will be extremely more self-aware and in the moment.
Maintaining congruence is also essential: if your posture ressonates a confident aura but your facial expressions indicate nervousness, people might pick up on those signs and think that you're trying to mask your feelings to make a fake impression.
It's important to not make your stance by crossing your arms since it conveys a non-inviting body language - in this scenario, mirroring another person's body language would be the optimal strategy since it builds empathy and rapport.
Adaptability, such as adjusting your stride to match the social context, indicates social intelligence.
#17 Handedness - left-handed or right-handed
The majority of the global population is right-handed, with about only 10% being left-handed. This disparity is thought to be caused by genetic factors mainly, since left-handedness usually runs through families.
Handedness is related to the lateralization of the brain, where specific cognitive functions are predominantly managed by one hemisphere. In most right-handed people, the left hemisphere is dominant for language and analytical tasks, while the right hemisphere is more dominant for spatial and creative tasks - although in most left-handed people this is actually not the case.
There are some studies that suggest a link between left-handedness and visual and artistical creativity, although this relation hasn't been entirely researched yet.
Left-handedness is associated with certain health conditions and developmental differences. It's also stated in the book that left handed people are "genetic failures" since natural selection didn't get "rid of them" - these associations are:
Higher chances of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, mood disorders and sleep related issues such as insomnia and sleep apnea;
Different patterns of language processing and learning pathways - more likely of having dyslexia;
More prone to immune system related diseases such as allergies and autoimmune disorders;
Higher prevalence of left-handedness among individuals who were born prematurely, suggesting that early birth could be a factor influencing handedness development given poor brain development.
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#18 Quotes from the book on various topics: physiognomy, face symmetry, peacock tail analogy, spatial IQ and testosterone, neuroticism and body type correlation, testosterone and height correlation, height and IQ, nose size and IQ, facial features criminals have in common, cranium size and IQ, hair loss, pupil size and IQ, the gaydar, 2D:4D digit ratio linked with testosterone, male-female friendship, atheism and religousness, homosexuality and mental instability, child upbringing and testosterone, republicans and liberals facial attractiveness, plastic surgery and neuroticism.
We would also expect the more masculine-looking person to have higher levels of autism traits. High functioning autism (or Asperger’s) is characterised by a very strong ability to systematize (create and work out systems) but a very weak ability to empathise. Autistics are socially unskilled, obsessed with detail, and have little interest in other people. These characteristics are associated with high testosterone. Autistics are subject to elevated fetal steroidogenic activity, including elevated levels of testosterone, as evidenced by tests of their amniotic fluid (Baron-Cohen et al., 2015). Dawson and colleagues (2007) have shown that autism is associated with a distinct intelligence profile. Autistics score strongly on the Ravens test (which strongly tests systematizing) relative to scores on broader IQ tests, which include vocabulary tests, for example. They score on average 30 percentile points higher, and in some cases 70 percentile points higher, on the Ravens than they score on the Wechsler, which is a broader test.
Rushton (2000) has shown that if we compare the ‘Big 3’ races – blacks, whites and Northeast Asians – there are clear and consistent differences, with East Asians at one end of spectrum and black people at the other. As these differences already show up in childhood, stand robust against environmental interventions, and as personality is at least 50% genetic and intelligence about 80% so, they are genetic differences. Northeast Asians score the highest in intelligence tests (105), blacks score the lowest (85), while whites are intermediate (100) but closer to Northeast Asians. Within these tests, whites have better verbal intelligence than Northeast Asians but much worse mathematical intelligence, meaning that Northeast Asians come out with higher ‘general intelligence’ overall. Real predictions about ‘character’ can be made from this, as intelligence is associated with emotional intelligence, cooperativeness, low self-esteem, a trusting nature, future-orientation, law-abidingness, intellectual curiosity, creativity, leadership ability, having a sense of humour, having a good memory, and even talking speed.
Essentially, this Edward Dutton fellow, an extremely controversial british anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist, published a book in 2019 titled "How to judge people by what they look like". In his 90ish pages work, he draws various connections between different physical traits (height, facial features, body, and lots more - scroll below for the entire list) with aspects of personality, behavior, and intelligence - his conclusions are based upon evolutionary psychology and anecdotal evidence such as scientifical papers, alongside his lifelong works.
In this in-depth mega guide, I will summarize and break down the main points discussed in his book since it's extremely blackpilled and useful for interpreting people and their doings/intentions, confirms PSL theories stated many years ago, and is an interesting and relevant topic altogether.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents
#1 Height
#2 Skin color
#3 Hair color
#4 Tattoos
#5 Facial symmetry
#6 Facial width-to-height ratio
#7 Eye size and shape
#8 Nose size and shape
#9 Mouth size and shape
#10 Eyebrow thickness and shape
#11 Jawline and chin
#12 Waist-to-hip ratio
#13 Non-verbal cues and body language
#14 Handwriting (graphology)
#15 Voice pitch and tone
#16 Posture and gait
#17 Handedness - left-handed or right-handed
#18 Quotes from the book on various topics: physiognomy, face symmetry, peacock tail analogy, spatial IQ and testosterone, neuroticism and body type correlation, testosterone and height correlation, height and IQ, nose size and IQ, facial features criminals have in common, cranium size and IQ, hair loss, pupil size and IQ, the gaydar, 2D:4D digit ratio linked with testosterone, male-female friendship, atheism and religousness, homosexuality and mental instability, child upbringing and testosterone, republicans and liberals facial attractiveness, plastic surgery and neuroticism.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#1 Height
Taller individuals are often perceived as having higher social status and greater power. This perception probably stems from evolutionary psychology, where height
theoretically is seen as a major capability in providing protection and resources - by result people might unconsciously give more respect to taller individuals - this also translates to leadership potential, where these same individuals are more likely perceived to be leaders and obtain leadership positions more often since height is correlated with confidence, assertiveness, and dominance. Taller people, particularly men, are often considered more attractive by females due to evolutionary factors, where taller individuals are seen as healthier and better able to provide resources, where recent studies show a correlation between height and income - and higher success in their career path (both men and women). Height can also be seen as an indicator of health and nutrition during developing years, being perceived as healthier and more athletic, gaining advantages in sports and various physically demanding activities - it is often seen as well that taller people are seen as more capable and confident, while those on the shorter side are less competent and assertive. Taller people are also higher IQ than shorter individuals, on average.
#2 Skin color
Surprisingly he talks very little about skin color but in a nutshell he covers that individuals with darker skin may be perceived as more aggressive and less intelligent due to "societal stereotypes" while those with lighter skin tones might be seen as more attractive - he also talks about implicit bias which refers to the unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that people hold about certain racial groups, and that light skin people are more prone to sunburn and skin cancer while dark skins are likely to experience vitamin D deficiency (pretty water but whatever).
#3 Hair color
Dutton suggests that blonde hair is often associated with youthfulness and beauty - individuals with dyed hair are perceived as more rebellious and non-conforming.
He doesn't conclude on a definitive agreement where darker or lighter hair is more desirable.
Lighter hair is perceived as more affluent while darker hair as less financially privileged.
Black hair is associated with mystery and being more alluring.
Apparently he states that redheads are seen as more passionate and temperamental, where blondes are seen as less intelligent and naive - interestingly enough there's a Dutch saying that goes "Rood haar en groene ogen, God behoede ons voor hun vervloekte leugens," which translates to "Red hair and green eyes, may God protect us from their cursed lies."
Finally, individuals with red hair might be more susceptible to certain health conditions, while those with blonde hair might have a genetic predisposition for certain physical traits - color might be viewed differently based on an individual's gender as well, so for example, women with blonde hair might be perceived as more sexually attractive, while men with blonde hair might be seen as less masculine (absolutely over for nordcucks).
#4 Tattoos
Tattoos might be associated with criminality, particularly in prison culture. Tattoos serve as a form of signaling among inmates, indicating affiliation with certain groups or gangs - tattoos might as well signal that an individual is a member of a certain tribe or community, or that they have successfully endured the pain of getting a tattoo (peacock analogy).
Tattoos are associated with risk-taking behavior, such as drug use or criminality.
Women are more likely to get tattoos that are small, colorful, or located in non-visible areas, while men might be more likely to get tattoos that are larger or located on visible areas like their arms or chest.
#5 Facial symmetry
This is an interesting one. Research shows that humans tend to find symmetrical faces more attractive, and this preference is thought to be rooted in evolutionary biology. Button explains that facial symmetry is associated with various factors, such as greater perceived health, since developmental stability leads to greater symmetry (more attractive).
People with more symmetrical faces are perceived as more trustworthy, competent, and socially outgoing, as well as more intelligent.
More prone to being leaders.
Asymmetrical face expressions' can more often be misinterpreted than symmetrical faces ones', being seen as less genuine.
Hormonal imbalances during puberty can worsen facial symmetry.
Higher symmetry is correlated to more conscientiousness, emotional stability and extroversion, higher self-esteem, confidence and IQ. This is probably due to the positive feedback reinforcement loop but has a genetic play into it.
#6 Facial width-to-height ratio
FWHR is calculated by dividing the distance between the cheekbones (bizygomatic width) by the distance between the upper lip and brow (upper face height).
Edward states that individuals with higher FWHR are seen as more aggressive and dominant. This has been observed across different cultures and is probably biologically based.
By association, lower FWHR faces are seen as more trustworthy - this may be explained due to the association with a more "baby face" appearance.
High FWHR individuals are more likely to be seen as leaders - on average, males have a higher FWHR ratio than women.
Higher levels of testosterone are linked to higher FWHR, which may explain the connection with dominance and aggression.
There isn't a complete agreement on FWHR attractiveness, since studies have shown mixed results. Although, on average, it is suggested that a slightly above-average FWHR is deemed as most attractive.
Individuals with higher FWHR might be perceived as expressing anger or assertiveness more intensely, while those with lower FWHR might be seen as having more approachable or friendly expressions (just be a cuck theory).
Men with higher FWHR are more likely to achieve financial and professional success in their careers.
#7 Eye size and shape
Kinda goes against the muh hunter eyes obsession on here but whatever
Larger eyes are often perceived as more attractive, especially in women. This preference may stem from the association of large eyes with youthfulness and fertility, which are evolutionarily advantageous traits. Larger eyes are also seen as more trustworthy and approachable. Smaller and more narrow eyes are seen as less trustworthy and more guarded.
Larger eyes are correlated to more emotional expression intensity, being seen as more open, warm and sociable, while smaller eyes are seen as more reserved, introverted and cautious.
The babyface effect is reported when people with larger, rounder eyes and other childlike facial features (high neoteny) are often perceived as more innocent, naive, and submissive. This is due to an innate tendency to associate childlike features with vulnerability and the need for protection.
#8 Nose size and shape
People with larger or more prominent noses are perceived as more assertive or dominant, while those with smaller noses are seen as more delicate or submissive. This goes in hand with the fact that certain nose shapes may be perceived as more or less friendly, approachable, or trustworthy as well.
Environment adaptation plays a big role. Populations living in colder climates developed narrower noses to help warm and humidify the air before it enters the lungs, while populations in warmer regions evolved broader noses for better cooling and airflow.
#9 Mouth size and shape
Fuller lips are seen as more attractive in general.
People with larger mouths are better at communicating their feelings non-verbally, while those with smaller or less expressive mouths are perceived as more reserved or emotionally guarded. Following the same logic, people with fuller lips are seen as more outgoing, talkative and assertive, while the opposite profile is seen as more introverted or cautious.
On average, people with fuller lips talk more than those without.
Tooth loss or gum disease impacts the appearance of the mouth, and subconscious judging of these indicators is seen for health-related issues.
Depending on your profile, having fuller lips is not always the best scenario. A well-proportioned mouth that compensates other features for optimal facial harmony and balance is key. Take a 1.6 lip-width-to-nose ratio as ideal.
Smiling resonates with an approachable, friendly and high-trust profile.
#10 Eyebrow thickness and shape
Smaller eyebrows communicate less expression than large ones. This correlates to emotional guard.
A positively tilted and thicker eyebrow translates to more assertiveness and dominance, while negatively tilted and thinner eyebrows are seen as delicate and submissive.
Men have thicker and straighter eyebrows, while women have them more arched and thinner.
#11 Jawline and chin
A strong, well-defined jawline is more attractive, especially for men, across all cultures - it's a strong health indicator. Weak chins are correlated to poor health and hormonal issues.
Men tend to have broader and angular jaws and chins while women have softer and rounder features (inward gonions). This contributes to the perceptions of masculinity/feminity and also has a role in assertiveness/submissiveness.
#12 Waist-to-hip ratio
WHR is the ratio of the circumference of the waist to the circumference of the hips
For women, a healthy WHR is less than or equal to 0.85 and for men it is less 0.9. Although various studies have shown that a WHR ratio of 0.6 for women still seems attractive and possibly even a bit lower. A low WHR is generally associated with a lower risk of health issues, while a high WHR can increase the risk of health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer and sleep apnea.
Low WHR in women is associated with higher fertility rates.
#13 Non-verbal cues and body language
Edward also delves into body language and non verbal communication. One of the strongest topics discussed is eye contact - a strong eye contact is an indicator of confidence, honesty and trustworthiness - these people are seen as more reliable and credible from those who avoid eye contact as much as possible, almost as they have something to hide. This is observed as well for mirroring.
Pupil dilatation is a big sign as well - it can provide important clues about a person's emotional state. Our pupils dilate when looking at something that we like or are interested in.
Someone who speaks with their hands are seen as more expressive and passionate, as well as higher trust. By avoiding hand gestures you are seen as reserved and shy, an outcast.
Timing is essential. When talking to someone, observe their in-time reactions to your actions - e.g, is someone crosses their arms after being asked a question might have felt offended, while someone who increases their voice pitch during a situation expresses an excitement for the conversation.
Lastly, a firm handshake indicates confidence and sincerity, while a limp handshake indicates insincerity.
#14 Handwriting (graphology)
Take this one with a grain of salt since it's literally pseudocience albeit it is quite interesting. Handwriting analysis or graphology studies the implications that the way we write on paper translates personality-wise. The book mentions this and gives us some insights into its main points:
Large handwriting is associated with outgoing, expressive personalities, while small handwriting indicates introversion or a detail-oriented nature;
A rightward slant suggests openess and sociability, while a leftward slant indicates introversion or a tendency to be more reserved. No slant implies logic, pragmatism and balance;
Heavy pressure when writing signifies strong emotions, determination, or even aggression, while light pressure suggests sensitivity, a gentle nature, or a lack of confidence;
Clear, legible handwriting means that you're a straightforward, organized individual, while illegible handwriting indicates a more chaotic or secretive personality;
Fast handwriting reveals impatience or a quick-thinking mind, while slow handwriting suggests careful deliberation or a tendency towards perfectionism. Funnily enough fast handwriting has been linked to higher IQs as well;
The presence of loops and curls in letters is an indication of creativity and artistic tendencies. On the other hand, angular or straight letters suggest a more analytical and logical mind;
A legible signature implies transparency and honesty, while an illegible one is associated with a desire for privacy or a need to keep aspects of oneself hidden;
Embellishments, such as underlining, circles, or extra strokes, can be interpreted as a sign of confidence or a desire for attention;
A smooth, flowing handwriting indicates a more harmonious and emotionally balanced individual, whereas erratic or inconsistent writing suggests a person who experiences frequent mood swings or emotional turmoil;
A high T-bar indicates high self-esteem and ambition, while a low T-bar implies a lack of confidence or self-doubt. A long T-bar suggests determination and enthusiasm, whereas a short T-bar lacks motivation and persistence.
#15 Voice pitch and tone
Edward states that voice pitch and tone are effective tools for expressing emotions or conveying a specific attitude. A high pitch emphasizes excitement and a lower one conveys seriousness. Understanding the various nuances in each different social context are crucial. A steady, clear, and well-modulated voice is credible and trustworthy, as it conveys confidence and control. In contrast, a wavering high-pitched and cracking voice causes the opposite effect.
It is important to modulate voice to fit in various contexts, such as speaking gently to a child or using a commanding tone in a leadership role, since this adaptability resembles a skilled communicator - those who maintaing a calm and steady voice during stressful situations are seen and more emotionally resilient and better leaders as well.
People tend to unconsciously mirror the voice pitch and tone of others in conversation. Mirroring is crucial since by doing it you're seen as more approachable, likable, and in tune with the context. This also happens when talking to the opposite gender, by which females will naturally talk in a higher pitch to males, and males will deepen their voice when talking to females as a evolutionary mating strategy.
A thin nasal voice is associated with insecurity, anxiety and fatigue. A resonant, full voice suggests vitality. In the same way, vocal fry is linked to a lack of professionalism, while uptalk is seen as a sign of insecurity.
#16 Posture and gait
This is pretty water but still relevant - posture and gait conveys a sense of dominance or submission in social interactions. A person who stands tall and walks confidently is perceived as more dominant, high energy-driven, engaged and passionate, while someone who slouches or adopts a submissive posture is seen as more compliant or deferential, less interested and tired.Individuals who consistently maintain good posture and move with purpose are seen as more self-aware, while those who are less mindful of their posture may come across as distracted or disengaged - a tip for this is to always walk pointing towards a direction and a place you want to arrive to - by doing this and setting and aiming for a specific destination your walk will be extremely more self-aware and in the moment.
Maintaining congruence is also essential: if your posture ressonates a confident aura but your facial expressions indicate nervousness, people might pick up on those signs and think that you're trying to mask your feelings to make a fake impression.
It's important to not make your stance by crossing your arms since it conveys a non-inviting body language - in this scenario, mirroring another person's body language would be the optimal strategy since it builds empathy and rapport.
Adaptability, such as adjusting your stride to match the social context, indicates social intelligence.
#17 Handedness - left-handed or right-handed
The majority of the global population is right-handed, with about only 10% being left-handed. This disparity is thought to be caused by genetic factors mainly, since left-handedness usually runs through families.
Handedness is related to the lateralization of the brain, where specific cognitive functions are predominantly managed by one hemisphere. In most right-handed people, the left hemisphere is dominant for language and analytical tasks, while the right hemisphere is more dominant for spatial and creative tasks - although in most left-handed people this is actually not the case.
There are some studies that suggest a link between left-handedness and visual and artistical creativity, although this relation hasn't been entirely researched yet.
Left-handedness is associated with certain health conditions and developmental differences. It's also stated in the book that left handed people are "genetic failures" since natural selection didn't get "rid of them" - these associations are:
Higher chances of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, mood disorders and sleep related issues such as insomnia and sleep apnea;
Different patterns of language processing and learning pathways - more likely of having dyslexia;
More prone to immune system related diseases such as allergies and autoimmune disorders;
Higher prevalence of left-handedness among individuals who were born prematurely, suggesting that early birth could be a factor influencing handedness development given poor brain development.
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#18 Quotes from the book on various topics: physiognomy, face symmetry, peacock tail analogy, spatial IQ and testosterone, neuroticism and body type correlation, testosterone and height correlation, height and IQ, nose size and IQ, facial features criminals have in common, cranium size and IQ, hair loss, pupil size and IQ, the gaydar, 2D:4D digit ratio linked with testosterone, male-female friendship, atheism and religousness, homosexuality and mental instability, child upbringing and testosterone, republicans and liberals facial attractiveness, plastic surgery and neuroticism.
We would also expect the more masculine-looking person to have higher levels of autism traits. High functioning autism (or Asperger’s) is characterised by a very strong ability to systematize (create and work out systems) but a very weak ability to empathise. Autistics are socially unskilled, obsessed with detail, and have little interest in other people. These characteristics are associated with high testosterone. Autistics are subject to elevated fetal steroidogenic activity, including elevated levels of testosterone, as evidenced by tests of their amniotic fluid (Baron-Cohen et al., 2015). Dawson and colleagues (2007) have shown that autism is associated with a distinct intelligence profile. Autistics score strongly on the Ravens test (which strongly tests systematizing) relative to scores on broader IQ tests, which include vocabulary tests, for example. They score on average 30 percentile points higher, and in some cases 70 percentile points higher, on the Ravens than they score on the Wechsler, which is a broader test.
Rushton (2000) has shown that if we compare the ‘Big 3’ races – blacks, whites and Northeast Asians – there are clear and consistent differences, with East Asians at one end of spectrum and black people at the other. As these differences already show up in childhood, stand robust against environmental interventions, and as personality is at least 50% genetic and intelligence about 80% so, they are genetic differences. Northeast Asians score the highest in intelligence tests (105), blacks score the lowest (85), while whites are intermediate (100) but closer to Northeast Asians. Within these tests, whites have better verbal intelligence than Northeast Asians but much worse mathematical intelligence, meaning that Northeast Asians come out with higher ‘general intelligence’ overall. Real predictions about ‘character’ can be made from this, as intelligence is associated with emotional intelligence, cooperativeness, low self-esteem, a trusting nature, future-orientation, law-abidingness, intellectual curiosity, creativity, leadership ability, having a sense of humour, having a good memory, and even talking speed.
