REAL MEN DONT LOOK DOWN - DIRECTION OF GAZE AFFECTS SEX DECISIONS ON FACES

Classifying a face as male or female was shown to be reliably affected by the direction in which the face was looking-a variable apparently unrelated to reported features of the face that show sexual dimorphism . Decisions were slower when gaze was averted downwards. Furthermore, masculinity ratings were lower for men's faces looking down than for t he same faces looking ahead. One high-level (configurational) face fea ture that varies with the sex of the face and with direction of gaze w as identified. The vertical upper-lid-to-brow distance is smaller in m en than in women and becomes less salient when eyes are averted down. This display feature may have evolved to signal gender quickly and rel iably, especially in alert male faces.