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Rookie Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals is a polarizing figure in baseball today, mostly due to his attitude. But recent discoveries in social psychology suggest our perceptions of Harper may be shaped by something a little hairier: the kid's facial hair.
Rookie Bryce Harper, all of 19 years old, has such a poor rep already in Major League Baseball that Cole Hamels felt justified in hitting him with a fastball, and then bragging about it afterwards, as Jelisa Castrodale of NBCSports.com points out.
Apparently there could be a number of reasons to explain the visceral reaction to Harper, including a propensity toward arrogance. But could the kid’s facial hair have anything to do with it?
Sounds bizarre, but maybe.
Last January, in the journal Behavioral Ecology, two researchers, Barnaby Dixson of Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, and Paul Vasey, of the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, released a study on reactions to men’s beards.
They pointed out that beard growth is under genetic control, and that it may serve as a sexual signal between men. In tests, women in both Samoa and in New Zealand did not rate bearded men as any more attractive than the same men pictured without beards, so beards weren’t helping the guys get girls. But other men (women, too) viewed bearded male faces as more threatening when the pictured males adopted an angry look.
Facial hair, the authors wrote “may intimidate rival males by increasing perceptions of the size of the jaw, overall length of the face, and by enhancing aggressive and threatening jaw-thrusting behaviors ... . The current study is the first to show that the beard augments a threatening behavioral display as bearded men with angry facial expressions received significantly higher scores for aggressiveness compared with clean-shaven faces ... . This suggests that the beard plays an important role in intermale signaling of threat and aggression.”
Other, past studies, have shown that when mock juries are presented with pictures of men accused of crimes like rape, the juries are much more likely to believe the bearded man is guilty. A 2004 study from researchers at Montclair State University in New Jersey asked 371 people to “sketch the face of a criminal offender. Eighty-two percent of the sketches contained some form of facial hair.” Yet beards have often been seen a sign of maturity, education, and competence. So what’s up?
A man’s facial features have been shown to reflect both his androgen status -- how much testosterone and related hormones he’s making -- and physical strength. Beards, themselves dependant upon androgens, can frame and accentuate those features.
This could be positive. “Both men and women ascribe positive attributes such as intelligence, courage, confidence and social maturity to beards,” Dixson explained in an email. But in his study, he included the angry expressions, and then, the beards made the men look threatening and meaner than when the same men were clean shaven.
So it’s all the above, suggested Dixson. “Beards appear to be linked with perceptions of elevated age (maturity), social status, dominance and threatening facial displays.”
Whether or not it’s deliberate strategy, the rash of beards among athletes, most famously Brian Wilson of the San Francisco Giants, is one way to intimidate the opposition. The callow Harper is just playing along.
Brian Alexander (www.BrianRAlexander.com) is co-author, with Larry Young PhD., of "The Chemistry Between Us: Love Sex and the Science of Attraction," (www.TheChemistryBetweenUs.com) to be published Sept. 13.
Related:
- Why not fix that receding hairline with some leg hair?
- Genetic mutation may explain mysterious blond Solomon Islanders
- Science of the silver fox: Why hair goes gray
Want more weird health news? Find The Body Odd on Facebook.
Leave a Comment:
So that's why every time I think Colonel Mustard did it!
Yeah, it does. It also explains why my old school bus driver used to scare me so bad. It must have been her mustache.
I was wondering why they didn't include women in their studies. Wonder if any tax payers money went toward this study.
I think Cole Hamels is guilty of assult and battery. I don't care about the beard.
If you purposely throw a pitch aiming to hit the batter, that is assult and battery in my book.
Why is no one talking about that?
The Vikings proved this theory centuries ago. What a waste of tax dollars.
DKJ, throughout the article the research included women.
The results of the study specified men with facial hair while appearing angry, not facial hair in itself. I've never met anyone with more facial hair than Santa. Everybody loves him. However, the picture of a very angry Santa swinging his huge bag of goodies at your head would likely change that.
Seriously, the study has merit. I was always a slight man of small stature. I've worn a neatly kept mustache and sideburns since I was 15. Only twice have I shaved them off in 25 years. Once because my wife wanted to see how I looked clean shaven and once on a dare from my 10 yr. old son. Both times resulted in my being the last in a crowd to be served and sometimes having to draw attention to myself to be served at all. It was as if I had become almost invisible.
In no time my facial hair grew back and everything returned to normal. I was treated with respect and most people were eager to get to know me. I don't know if the same thing happens with big burly guys, but I'm betting that it does to perhaps a lessor degree. (been there, done that, I would think that ladies should expect the opposite results.)
Sorry, I'm just not attracted to ANY guy with facial hair, period. Gotta be clean-shaven to catch my attention. Moreover, I don't like much body hair at all on men or women. The smoother, the better.
"Moreover, I don't like much body hair at all on men or women. The smoother, the better."
And you tactfully bring this up to prospective dates, how exactly?
Hmmm... Cole Hamels must be a coward. I have facial hair, and if he does not like it, he better come prepared to do battle, the Scottish way.
We live in a world of grunge. There's facial hair, tattoos, piercings, non-fitting clothes, plumber's pants and an attitude toward not looking presentable. No wonder so many are out of work. When I ran my business I didn't hire some because of the above reasons. I couldn't tell them that but the first impression is always the most indelible impression.
I agree 100%. When it comes to job hunting, you need to be presentable. To me that means you need to wear a suit and tie, clean shaven, hair done nice, and always smile. You can only make a first impression once. You better make it a good one. And don't forget that the person/people doing the hiring have prejudices just like anyone else. If they don't like beards or facial hair, they might hire someone who doesn't have that over someone who does. So do yourself a favor and shave for the interview. Once you get the job, you can grown the hair back. Of course that depends on the job.
I'm really sure the recession is because of beards and blue jeans!! Not really a strong argument you're making. Sure if a guy shows up in a scraggly beard and ripped concert T-shirt for an office gig he's not gonna be hired. But just as many people go about their day in grunge today as in the 90's when both grunge and jobs were at their peak. People don't show up dressed like a homeless person for a job interview! Find another excuse - like perhaps unregulated speculation in mortgage backed securities, coupled with predatory loan practices? Nah, couldn't be....
I disagree. I have a beard, and keep it closely trimmed. I don't at all think this gives others a negative first impression of me, on the contrary.
Now, if the beard is unkempt and too long, then that's another issue.
When I run my business, I pick up clients because of my long unkempt beard. Different strokes for different folks.
When I was beardless, no one came up to me and said, "Hey man, I love your smooth face skin." Now that I have a beard, not a day goes by without someone saying, "Hey man, badass beard."
Back in the early 2000s I interviewed with Walgreens for a slot as staff pharmacist. The poor district pharmacy supervisor had to go three levels up in order to get my hiring okayed because I have worn a full beaver for over 40 years. By the time she got back to me, I had decided to rescind the application.
Four years later, my application went through with no trouble at all. I saw her at a meeting in Wichita about a year after I hired on and she told me I had opened Walgreens up to hiring appropriate people rather than appropriate looks. She had hired a young man in Chicago with piercings all over his ears and the customers at his assigned store just loved him because he was an appropriate, customer-service-oriented guy, not because he was clean-shaven and unpierced.
You people need to get a life and look at who a guy is, not whether he meets your personal grooming standards. I have been happily married for over 40 years and would probably scare my wife and children and all our many friends to death if I shaved the beard off now.
With my business, I don't hire shallow narcissistic people who are self important and pretentious.
Got huge chops and a goatee, and make $40k +.
I've been asked at interviews about the facial hair before, then ask, "you thought my resume was good enough for an interview right??"
Well Eric, here's another compliment! I love your beard and I wish I could grow mine out like yours! :-)
Actually, my friend got hired BECAUSE he had a beard. Everyone else in the company had one at the interview and they told him he'd fit right in with them. They told him that if he didn't have the beard, they may have overlooked him because of his baby face, which as a manager, would not have garnered as much respect.
@ eric
Eric, they are just saying that so you don't kill them .......... ha
I can't believe people still wear those mustache/beard gotee(sp?) things, i'm talking to you Chuck Todd. not only did they never look good, they are so 1984 with your brown leather jacket.
We live in a world of grunge. There's facial hair, tattoos, piercings, non-fitting clothes, plumber's pants and an attitude toward not looking presentable. No wonder so many are out of work. When I ran my business I didn't hire some because of the above reasons. I couldn't tell them that but the first impression is always the most indelible impression
Very well said, take a look at the grunge even on American Idol, pityful what our country has degressed to. Add men with ponytails and ridiculous earrings to the list...take pride in being a man and look it.
Not like in the 60's and 70's right? Everyone had it cut high and tight right?
Eric, looking good, I miss my husband's beard but it was necessary for him to cut it off because job safety.
@Dan
"take a look at the grunge even on American Idol,"
That's not grunge. Not even close. Having a beard or wearing black clothes and nose studs/rings does NOT make it grunge. If you are old enough, I suggest you reflect back to the late 80's, early 90's for a better indication of what was "in".
Preppy emo-pop/punk is not grunge. What the hell is wrong with you people.
Dear Dan,
You're right, what they have now is not "country" music. We have digressed considerably...and it is a pity.
I work in a laboratory and can't grow a beard for the same reason. That, and my wife won't hear of it. Lol!
Sorry - plumber's pants? WTF is that? Do you mean saggy pants? Cargo pants?
Fear the beard!
It's not necessarily the BEARD that is a question of manliness, it's the bits of food and small critters that live there. I don't feel like I'm less manly than someone with a beard, but they WILL probably outlive me due to the self-contained ecosystem they keep on their chin!
I am a short guy with a beard. I am quick on answering question on any topic, rightly or wrongfully.
I never understood why people get intimidated by me. Ihave thought about this a lot. I never think about intimidating others and not aware I act that way. But I make people nervous even tall big guys.
I don't know if this is the reason. I wear beard because as I am gettign old by jaws have shrunk and beard covers it and make me look helathier.
Maybe you are aggressive in nature to compensate for lack of height. No, I am not making fun of you. People may get intimidated by aggressive posture or tone.
I've had facial hair in different configurations since I was able to grow it. I just don't like how I look without it. My wife agrees with me so there is no reason to get rid of it. I already know I am intimidating. Could be the beard it could be my general demeanor. Those that take the time to get to know me know I am a pretty nice guy.
I'm not scared of any man with the name Tracey.
That. Was. Awesome.
A boy named Sue:
I tell ya, I've fought tougher men
But I really can't remember when,
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss,
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first,
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile.
And he said: "Son, this world is rough
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough
And I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye
I knew you'd have to get tough or die
And it's the name that helped to make you strong."
He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight
And I know you hate me, and you got the right
To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do.
But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you "Sue.'"
I've been able to move past my issues with misspellings in comments post... but in the article?
It's "dependent" and all you need is a spell checker to find that.
I grew up with a dad who looked like Jerry Garcia from the Greatful Dead in the winter. He always kept it clean and neat. My husband has a goatee. I like facial hair on a man. I think we've just become so accustomed to the clean shaven male face that many people aren't sure what to make of a guy with a beard. To me it is what a man should look like. Some of my friends when I was little were scared of my dad because of his facial hair. Once they got to know him and found out want a great guy he was the beard wasn't so intimidating.
How about agreeing on a simple goatee? You got the manly facial hair without the mass of fluff with crap in it.
I wonder what the first guy who got a goatee thought: Hhmmm, what can I do to make myself look more like a goat?
I have had a full beard all of my life and I have found that a great many good looking women are attracted to me because of my beard.
When you were a baby, too? That must've freaked the whole delivery room out!
zupercram: That's funneee :)
Sorry girls but you're judged by your cup size.
lol! at least we can change our facial hair...
Cup size can be changed as well. ;)
Mmm hmm, smaller ones are often associated with higher intelligence. Definitely hold up better over time, too. Mostly valued for eliminating shallow men from prospective dating pool. Yes, smaller is definitely better. :-)
Stereotype much?
For heaven's sake, Hot, I was joking. As a matter of fact, the consensus in the scientific/medical field in the early 20th century actually WAS an inverse correlation between cup size and IQ...go figure.
Lenny Bruce put it this way :
DId you ever meet a femaile brain surgeon named Bambi, Candy or Suzi ...?
there's a reason for that..
the same reason that there are no "beautiful" people living in poverty ....
rkaralius, quit trying to suck-up to that picture. you don't have a chance ...........
LOL Ji! I'm a straight woman, and a perfect Size A. She doesn't interest me.
In my experience, the guys that are the most anti-beard are the ones that can't grow them.
And what about the girls? I dislike the bearded look. It's scuzzy. A goatee I can get over, and perhaps a modest mustache, but a full beard just looks gross. A few guys can get away with it, but not many.
Probably true. I couldn't grow a proper beard with a tube of Rogaine and a grow light! Not hating the rest of you, though.
Must have very limited experiences..
Fear the beard Biotches...
This is blatant facial profiling.
Beards to me are a sign of laziness and poor hygiene. In other words, take a bath and shave!
While I could stand to take baths more often... it's harder for me to hone that perfectly shaped goatee than to shave my whole face. Therefore it would be lazier for me to shave it all.
Seriously? Quite the contrary. It takes effort to keep a well groomed beard and has NOTHING to do with poor hygiene. Now if you are referring to the long scraggly kind typically seen on a homeless person, well if one is not homeless then you have a point. Might want to not throw out such a general comment in the future.
I've had a beard of varying lengths for over 5 years and maintaining a beard is more time consuming than staying clean shaven. I shampoo and condition my beard daily and I still have to shave my cheeks and neck. I also have to avoid eating certain foods (ice cream cones, spaghetti, ribs, corn on the cob, etc.) to keep my beard clean. I'm 30 but without my beard I look like a teenager and as an accountant I find that my clients listen to me more with a beard vs my baby face.
Having a neatly trimmed beard is almost like creating a sculpture: if you take too much off one side, it can ruin the whole thing and make it hard to fix. It takes patience, and skill to be able to properly maintain a proportioned beard. Hardly "lazy" as you claim.
Are you talking about a beard or something else...
In the Military they teach you that bad hygiene like being unshaven shows weakness of your enemy and a time to attack.
Yet here we have a study showing that men are more intimidated by aggressive men with big beards.
I think the "clean-shaven military face" thing was started by a beard hater (or more likely, because of the invention of the gas mask).
I wish I could grow a beard.
I will call women equal when they can grow a beard.
And when men can carry a child to term?
In survival situations a human female generally beats a male and for a multitude of reasons. Females are built and coded to survive. Males greatest downfall is arrogance & a "I'm badder than you attitude". Just can't control their emotions of; anger & jealousy. Oh well, nature at work perfecting the species & weeding out the mistakes.
... And until then they are superior.
#18, #18.1, #18.2, and #18.3
Time to grow up now kids. There is no need to start a gender war.
Another fascinating scientific study ....... -_-
It's another way of stereotyping an individual without regard to fact. Tattoos, hairstyles, choice of clothes, speaking accent, or color of skin for that matter; all are used to prejudge during a first impression. Is it wrong? perhaps, but it's also a survival instinct deeply ingrained in the human psyche and it's not going away, ever.
Simply look at Vi Rothermel's comment above; beards represent nothing but laziness and poor hygene. It's uncommon for someone to express their ignorance and prejudice so profoundly, but that's what a comment like this represents to me.
Interesting concept that you would lump in a personal decision as the same thing as Skin color or accent. You do realize that having a bread and/or tattoo(I have both) is a choice, and there for fully acceptable to legal discriminate against(Supreme Court rulings) where as skin color is a native characteristic.
Beards on a man or lipstick on a woman---------based purely on how you appear to yourself in a mirror and the 'fashion of the day.' (1800's--beards. 1900's a change back to 'clean shaving'--2,000's Beads----and so on, and so on!!