Xevvyi
Iron
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2014 Czech study (Kleisner et al., PLoS ONE). 160 adults photographed with neutral expression, no makeup, no jewelry, all had taken real IQ tests beforehand. Random raters (n=220) guessed intelligence purely from the static face.
Results
Men: perceived intelligence correlated r = 0.24 with measured IQ (p < 0.001)
Women: perceived intelligence correlated r = -0.01 with measured IQ (statistically zero)
Faces rated highest, average, and lowest on intelligence were averaged into composites. The resulting male composites match the popular meme exactly: high perceived IQ male face is longer, narrower, sharper jawed, slightly upward mouth corners; low perceived IQ male face is wider, rounder, softer.
Follow-up studies in 2016, 2018, and 2020 with larger and cross-cultural samples replicated the same pattern: significant accuracy for mens faces, zero accuracy for womens faces.
Most likely explanation accepted in the literature: higher testosterone during development slightly suppresses IQ in men and also produces wider, rounder faces. The visible masculinity cues therefore carry a real statistical signal about intelligence in men only. No equivalent hormonal trade-off exists in women, so facial femininity carries no IQ information.
Bottom line
Static face alone gives a reliable edge guessing male IQ
Static face alone gives zero information about female IQ
Results
Men: perceived intelligence correlated r = 0.24 with measured IQ (p < 0.001)
Women: perceived intelligence correlated r = -0.01 with measured IQ (statistically zero)
Faces rated highest, average, and lowest on intelligence were averaged into composites. The resulting male composites match the popular meme exactly: high perceived IQ male face is longer, narrower, sharper jawed, slightly upward mouth corners; low perceived IQ male face is wider, rounder, softer.
Follow-up studies in 2016, 2018, and 2020 with larger and cross-cultural samples replicated the same pattern: significant accuracy for mens faces, zero accuracy for womens faces.
Most likely explanation accepted in the literature: higher testosterone during development slightly suppresses IQ in men and also produces wider, rounder faces. The visible masculinity cues therefore carry a real statistical signal about intelligence in men only. No equivalent hormonal trade-off exists in women, so facial femininity carries no IQ information.
Bottom line
Static face alone gives a reliable edge guessing male IQ
Static face alone gives zero information about female IQ
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