RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Symmetry, sexual dimorphism in facial proportions and male facial attractiveness JF Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences JO Proc Biol Sci FD The Royal Society SP 1617 OP 1623 DO 10.1098/rspb.2001.1703 VO 268 IS 1476 A1 Penton-Voak, I. S. A1 Jones, B. C. A1 Little, A. C. A1 Baker, S. A1 Tiddeman, B. A1 Burt, D. M. A1 Perrett, D. I. YR 2001 UL http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/268/1476/1617.abstract AB Facial symmetry has been proposed as a marker of developmental stability that may be important in human mate choice. Several studies have demonstrated positive relationships between facial symmetry and attractiveness. It was recently proposed that symmetry is not a primary cue to facial attractiveness, as symmetrical faces remain attractive even when presented as half faces (with no cues to symmetry). Facial sexual dimorphisms (‘masculinity’) have been suggested as a possible cue that may covary with symmetry in men following data on trait size/symmetry relationships in other species. Here, we use real and computer graphic male faces in order to demonstrate that (i) symmetric faces are more attractive, but not reliably more masculine than less symmetric faces and (ii) that symmetric faces possess characteristics that are attractive independent of symmetry, but that these characteristics remain at present undefined.