Score One for the Girlie Man

So you can't palm a basketball, getting your oil changed means dropping your car off at the mechanic and you know the benefit of getting a good facial. Yeah, face it, you've got a look that is more Bret Easton Ellis than it is Clint Eastwood. Recently studies have shown what certain men lack in masculinity, they make up for in trustworthiness and potential mate material.

A study conducted by scientists at the universities of Durham and St. Andrews recently concluded that facial features, which commonly denote more classically masculine traits, might also provide women with a precognitive idea of a man's long-term relationship worth. Faces with square jaws, larger noses and smaller eyes, left those viewing them as being less faithful, having poor parenting skills and generally lacking a warm personality. Conversely, those with finer, more feminine features like: full lips, wide eyes and thinner, more rounded eyebrows were seen a more suitable mate for long-term relationships.

According to the scientists conducting the study, the information refines the notion of attraction and what women, in general, may subconsciously be looking for when selecting a partner. Furthermore, that facial preconception, which induces a decision, will tell a woman to either go ahead with the connection or to cut it off at that point. Essentially, the process of selection will depend, strictly, on what kind of relationship a woman is looking to pursue, which is dependent on her stage in life.

Those involved in the study, selected dominance, wealth, ambition, faithfulness, commitment parenting and warmth. Respondents were asked to judge pairs of pictures that revealed only the face; no hair, ears, neck, shoulders or clothing, thereby ruling out other deciding factors. Selecting which face more correctly matched a particular trait, in their opinion, the study's participants then relayed how prevalent that trait was by using a sliding scale. What was most interesting, in the study, was that faces exhibiting an overall distinction of health, such as a good complexion and an even skin tone, scored higher on all personality traits and were more desirable across the board.

No longer does the sign of the alpha male - or classic physical signs of machismo - denote fitness or imperviousness from diseases and the like. Furthermore, it no longer indicates to the opposite sex that he would make for the ideal relationship partner. Ultimately, the research found that a man's health, and outward appearance thereof, are what conveys all around good qualities for partnership and personality. So, if you're looking to attract a mate, make sure that what women see is a healthy guy, which will represent a source of wealth, warmth, companionship and readiness for family life.