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The formation of status hierarchies in leaderless groups

The role of male waist-to-hip ratio

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Abstract

Two studies examined the link between social dominance and male waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Groups of four men interacted in a leaderless group discussion. In both studies, men with higher WHRs (associated with current and long-term health status) were rated by other group members as behaving more leader-like when an observer was present, and rated themselves as being more assertive. In Study 2, men with higher WHRs were rated by independent observers as behaving more dominantly, but only when the evaluator was present. These results are discussed in terms of evolutionary models of health, attraction, and intrasexual competition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Simon Fraser University, USA

    Lorne Campbell

  2. Texas A&M University, USA

    Jeffry A. Simpson, Mark Stewart & John G. Manning

Authors
  1. Lorne Campbell
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  2. Jeffry A. Simpson
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  3. Mark Stewart
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  4. John G. Manning
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Correspondence to Lorne Campbell.

Additional information

Lorne Campbell received his Ph.D. in psychology at Texas A&M University in 2001. He is an assistant professor of psychology, formerly at Simon Fraser University and now at the University of Western Ontario. His research interests include the study of romantic relationships and group processes from an evolutionary perspective.

Jeffry A. Simpson, a professor of psychology at Texas A&M University, received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1986. Most of his research focuses on interpersonal relationships, particularly mating, attachment, and relationship maintenance processes.

Mark Stewart received his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in 2001. He is now a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Southern Methodist University.

John G. Manning received his DVM and M.S. from Texas A&M University. He is currently a lecturer in the Poultry Science Department at Texas A&M University.

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Campbell, L., Simpson, J.A., Stewart, M. et al. The formation of status hierarchies in leaderless groups. Hum Nat 13, 345–362 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12110-002-1019-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12110-002-1019-0

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