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Bald men deemed more confident and masculine, study finds
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A study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, however, claims that those with male pattern baldness or who simply choose to shave their heads are actually more confident and masculine than those with a full head of hair.
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P
art of the aging process for most men involves the loss of hair which, more often than not, carries a negative stigma in the eye of the public.
A study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, however, claims that those with male pattern baldness or who simply choose to shave their heads are actually more confident and masculine than those with a full head of hair.
After having male and female students rate several photos of men, data revealed that contrary to popular belief, hairless males are high in terms of attractiveness and appear more confident and dominant to the opposite sex.
The criteria were split into three categories–overall attractiveness, confidence and dominance, according to The Independent.
As it turns out, naturally bold subjects fared better in all areas, while those with thinning hair still rated better than those with thick ones.
Aside from being deemed more desirable, baldness was even revealed to have made men appear taller than they truly are.
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“Namely, the men were viewed as nearly an inch taller and 13 percent stronger when pictured with shaved heads versus with hair,” the study’s findings read.
“Because only their hair was altered in these photographs, other factors cannot account for these differences.”
Researchers, meanwhile, shared their theory on why bald men seem more distinguished than their peers.
“Choosing to dispense with one’s hair is arguably a form of non-verbal behavior, a form of expression which communicates information about the self otherwise difficult to observe,” the study explained.
It also urged males to embrace their natural looks instead of resorting ways to get their hair back.
“Instead of spending billions each year trying to reverse or cure their hair loss, the counterintuitive prescription of this research to men experiencing male pattern baldness is to shave their heads.”
This article appeared on the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
