Physiognomy: Difference between revisions

A team of Psychologists from the University of Warwick conducted a study which showed downward pointing triangles are perceived as threatening as well as negative faces in a crowd.<ref>https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120529074617.htm</ref><ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21787078</ref> Dr Blagrove says "If we look at cartoon characters, the classic baddie will often be drawn with the evil eyebrows that come to a downward point in the middle. This could go some way to explain why we associate the downward pointing triangle with negative faces. These shapes correspond with our own facial features and we are unconsciously making that link." This explains why the evil eyebrows and pointy chin of a villain make our 'threat' instinct kick in. A cross-sectional study done in 2017 on the Dermatologic Features of Classic Movie Villains shows that the top 10 villains display a significantly higher incidence of dermatologic findings than the top 10 heroes (60% vs 0%), which include alopecia, periorbital, hyperpigmentation, deep rhytides on the face, scars on the face, verruca vulgaris on the face, and rhinophyma.<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5817612/</ref> Showing that people readily associate [[failo effect|signs of unhealthy and or damaged skin]] with an evil, villainous nature.  

In men a large cut at just the right angle over the face seems to improve attractiveness. Indeed a study done in 2008 by a team of researchers at the University of Liverpool proves that women indeed do find battle scarred men as more attractive for short term relationships. This may be due to women perceiving such men as brave, dominant 'bad boys' moreso than men without facial scarring. Scarification as a form of signalling bravery and stoicism is indeed common in many non-industrialized cultures around the world. <ref>https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081118081446.htm</ref>