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{{B}}The Ideal Husband{{/B}} Science now might be able to explain women's fascination with Brad Pitt's face and George Clooney's eyes. Women seem to{{U}} (51) {{/U}}potential mates by how masculine their features are, new research shows. Men with square jaws and well-defined brow ridges are seen as good short-term partners,{{U}} (52) {{/U}}those with more feminine traits such as a rounder face and fuller lips are perceived as better long-term mates. In the study by Daniel Kruger at the US's University of Michigan, 854 subjects viewed a series of{{U}} (53) {{/U}}head shots that had been digitally changed to exaggerate or minimize masculine traits They then{{U}} (54) {{/U}}questions about how they expected the men in the photos to behave. Most participants said that those with more masculine features were{{U}} (55) {{/U}}to be risky, competitive, and more apt to fight, challenge bosses, cheat on spouses and put less effort into parenting. Those with more feminine{{U}} (56) {{/U}}were seen as good parents and husbands, hard workers and emotionally supportive mates. But, despite all the negative characteristics, when asked who they would choose for a short-term relationship, women selected the more masculine{{U}} (57) {{/U}}men. Brad and George, both chiseled jaws and well-defined brows, then would be good for a{{U}} (58) {{/U}}romance, not for something longer. The study was published in the December issue of the US journal Personal Relationships. Kruger said that from an evolutionary perspective, this{{U}} (59) {{/U}}sense. The key is testosterone, the hormone responsible{{U}} (60) {{/U}}the development of masculine facial features and other sexual characteristics. It has been found to affect the body's ability to fight disease: men with high levels of the hormone are typically{{U}} (61) {{/U}}and healthy-traits women want to pass on to their children. However, increased testosterone has also been linked to{{U}} (62) {{/U}}and violence in relationships. So, these men{{U}} (63) {{/U}}produce high quality offspring, but they don't always make great parents or faithful mates, Kruger says. The scientific community have{{U}} (64) {{/U}}skepticism toward physiognomy, which links facial characteristics to certain behavioural traits. But Kruger argues that the research is a valuable tool for understanding mating strategies. And, of course, for explaining why Tony Leung and Takeshi Kanesshiro have millions of female{{U}} (65) {{/U}}. It might have to do with their genes. Or something to do with ours. |