Facial Formidability Uniquely Informs Perceptions of White and Asian Men: Evidence From Two Samples in the United States

Perceivers rely on men's facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) as the basis of several stereotypes about men's proclivities as parents. High-fWHR men are perceived as especially prone toward disciplining their offspring. Nonetheless, such ascriptions may vary across different racial categories based on concomitant parenting stereotypes for different cultures. One such stereotype could include a proclivity toward tough love, frequently described as "tiger parenting" in the context of East Asian families among U.S. perceivers. Competing stereotypes of East Asian men's high expectations could render the ascription of this parenting style more apparent from less formidable men. Two studies tasked U.S. participants to evaluate White and Asian targets varying in fWHR based on their proclivity to discipline their children and employ tough love. In replicating previous findings, high-fWHR men were perceived as more prone to punishing their offspring. This perception was most apparent for White targets, whereas low-fWHR East Asian men were perceived as more prone to tough love (Study 1). This inference of low-fWHR East Asian men further corresponded with perceptions of them as especially competent (Study 2), an interplay between stereotypes centering around race and formidability. Findings contribute to understanding formidability stereotypes across racial categories.