Boys' fingers point to masculinity, study finds

Feb 15, 2012, 0:02 GMT

Vienna - Parents may want to take a close look at their boys' hands, after Austrian scientists found that finger length is an indicator of dominance and masculinity, according to a study published on Wednesday.

Previous studies established a link between the ratio of index and ring fingers and male characteristics in adult men.

'Now we know that this connection exists already before puberty,' said Katrin Schaefer, an anthropologist at the University of Vienna who led the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The researchers found that certain facial characteristics, signalling masculinity and dominance, are established early in the life cycle.

This could have social effects, as boys with masculine faces might be perceived differently than those with more delicate features.

After studying the hands and faces of boys aged from 4 to 11, the scientists found that the longer the ring finger is in relation to the index finger, 'the smaller and shorter the forehead, the thicker the eyebrows, the wider and shorter the nose and the larger the lower face' - features which point to masculinity.

The authors said that further studies should look into the social implications of their findings.

Previous research found that the ratio of index to ring finger depends on the levels of male hormones that babies are exposed to during pregnancy.