Psychology News
Researchers at the University of Vienna explored how a higher voice pitch can influence the evaluation of a female face. The study is published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.
The Study
The researchers recruited 104 heterosexual or bisexual men, approximately aged 24–25 years. The participants were asked to rate videos of female faces regarding attractiveness, age, femininity, and health.
The same videos were played twice, except once with a slightly higher voice. The research team observed if and how the subtle differences in voice pitch influenced the perception of the faces.
The Findings
The results revealed that higher voice pitches made female faces appear younger almost by half a year on average.
One of the lead researchers, Christina Krumpholz, remarked: “[The study indicates] that we may need to rethink existing evolutionary psychological concepts and make more room for individual preferences and differences.”
To Know More You May Refer To
Krumpholz, C., Quigley, C., Ameen, K., Reuter, C., Fusani, L., & Leder, H. (2022). The Effects of Pitch Manipulation on Male Ratings of Female Speakers and Their Voices. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 911854. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.911854
