Some Components and Consequences of a Babyface

Physical measurements and subjective ratings of various facial features were obtained for 20 adult male stimulus faces. The faces were also rated on five personality dimensions, physical attractiveness, age, and babyfacedness. The physical measurements of large, round eyes, high eyebrows, and a small chin each yielded the perception of a babyish facial appearance, and a weighted linear composite derived from the measures of eye size and chin width accounted for 57% of the variance in ratings of babyfacedness. Both this measured composite and subjective babyfacedness ratings were positively correlated with perceptions of a male stimulus person's naivete, honesty, kindness, and warmth. Analyses revealed that these relations were not attributable to the effects of perceived age or attractiveness. The results are discussed within a theoretical framework, which suggests that the adaptive value of recognizing natural covariations between certain appearance cues and behavioral affordances may provide an explanation for some appearance-based stereotyping.