Do Faces Signal Fertility? Female Perceptions and Mate-Guarding Responses

This project investigates how subtle facial cues linked to fertility influence women’s perceptions of potential sexual rivals. It examines whether changes in facial appearance across fertility stages affect perceived attractiveness and mate-guarding tendencies among women in long-term heterosexual relationships. By replicating previous research, the study aims to clarify whether naturally occurring hormonal variations produce minute facial differences that elicit competitive responses. The anticipated findings are that women will display stronger mate-guarding reactions toward more fertile and attractive targets, contributing to a broader understanding of the evolutionary and psychological bases of intrasexual competition.