Individuals use facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) to infer dominance and fighting ability of others. We hypothesized that broad assessments of target formidability from fWHR would form a basis for determining men’s coalitional value, with high-fWHR men being especially valuable in roles requiring physical strength. Across five studies (N=1,445), we identified the social affordance of male facial structures connoting formidability and how judgments influence coalitional decisions. In addition to replicating previous findings indicating high-fWHR men are more desirable for tasks requiring physical strength, we found that such men are aversive for tasks requiring creativity (Studies 1 and 2). High-fWHR men were additionally perceived as more effective in combat roles in the military (Study 3). Finally, in two pre-registered studies, we found that activation of competitive motivations heightens individuals’ interest in formidable allies during intergroup interactions (Study 4), but not interest in approaching them (Study 5). We interpret findings using evolutionary and social affordance theories and discuss hypothesized ancestral origins of selecting formidable allies.

Male facial structures are associated with men’s formidability. Those possessing a high facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) are perceived as especially formidable. Although such men would be perceived as interpersonally threatening, inclusion of such men in group living could prove advantageous in certain social contexts. Defeated men typically ingratiate themselves heavily with other men following physical conflict through post-conflict reconciliation, which could serve to strengthen coalitional bonds. We conducted two studies to identify how men expect post-conflict reconciliation to occur based on the presence of facial structures connoting formidability. Men indicated their expectations of displaying and receiving respect toward high- and low-fWHR men after imagining winning and losing in physical fights with them; Study 1 (N=238) only considered White opponents and Study 2 (N=303) compared Black and White opponents. Participants expected to display similar levels of respect toward high- and low-fWHR opponents but expected to receive less respect from high-fWHR targets (Studies 1 and 2), particularly if they were Black (Study 2). Findings provide initial evidence for how facial structures connoting formidability shape post-conflict reconciliation.