Picking teams: When dominant facial structure is preferred

•Participants picked teammates from faces varying in facial-width to height ratio.•In physically-competitive contexts, high fWHR targets were most selected.•Perceptions of physical strength and aggression drove selection choices.

Research has demonstrated that individuals with higher facial width-to-height ratios (fWHR) are consistently perceived negatively on numerous important interpersonal dimensions. In contrast, the current research posited that high fWHR individuals might be perceived as providing group advantages, and thus preferred in certain contexts. We examined how fWHR influences group membership selection decisions during competitive intergroup contexts. Faces with a high or low fWHR were presented in arrays, and participants were tasked with selecting group members across a variety of contexts. In Study 1, participants were more likely to select high fWHR individuals for group membership during intergroup competition. Results from the following four studies lead to the conclusion that preferences for higher fWHR individuals in competitive intergroup contexts are driven by inferences of physical strength and aggression. Thus, fWHR is perceived as a cue to attributes considered advantageous during times of intergroup conflict.