Is a beard an honest signal of male dominance and testosterone?

Kowal, M., Sorokowski, P., Żelaźniewicz, A., etal. Is a beard an honest signal of male dominance and testosterone? Arch Sex Behav (2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02012-w

Commentary

The male beard has been hypothesized to be a visually sexual trait and a potential marker of other traits such as dominance, masculinity, social status, and self-confidence.

However, because men can easily change their facial hair, beards can also provide unreliable information about traits. In this study, we examined whether a goatee is an honest signal of testosterone levels and self-reported dominance.

Young (M = 21.29, SD = 1.54) healthy men (N = 97) participated in the study.

Beards were measured by self-report, using digital calipers.

Participants provided saliva samples before and after acute exercise, assessed testosterone and cortisol levels, and reported dominance on a 5-item scale.

These results showed that beard length was not associated with testosterone levels or dominance. Therefore, there is no evidence that beards alone are indicative of testosterone levels and dominant honesty.