Perceiving the facial correlates of sociosexuality: Further evidence

Certain physical traits are associated with individuals’ tendency towards short-term sexual relationships (as assayed by the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory). Observers may be able to accurately detect sociosexuality at zero acquaintance. Here we seek to assess whether accurate zero-acquaintance judgements are based on an awareness of the general tendency towards risky behaviour rather than a specific judgement of sociosexuality. Results replicate previous findings that the faces of individuals with an unrestricted sociosexual orientation are: accurately identified as having unrestricted sociosexuality if female, more masculine if male, and more attractive if female. Furthermore, perception of Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI) in female faces was not due to an awareness of general risk taking behaviour.