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The effects of voice pitch and resonances on assessments of speaker size, masculinity, and attractiveness

The human voice might have been shaped by sexual selection. Hence, voice fundamental (F0, or pitch) and formant frequencies (Fn, or timbre) are proposed to convey fitness cues germane to rivals and potential mates. First, I confirm the independent effects of F0 and Fn on listeners’ assessments of speaker size, masculinity, and attractiveness. Second, I quantify the just-noticeable differences in both vocal features and then place F0 and Fn cues in conflict by equally discriminable amounts to test their relative influence on such voice-based social judgments. Results revealed a greater relative role of Fn in listeners’ ratings of all three dimensions, suggesting that these dimensions might all be cued more reliably by Fn than F0. Alternatively, given post-hoc principal component analyses that revealed considerable overlap in ratings of size, masculinity, and attractiveness, listeners’ conceptions of these dimensions may not be independent despite a research tradition that assumes they are. / xi, 102 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:ALU.w.uleth.ca/dspace#10133/2549
Date January 2010
CreatorsPisanski, Katarzyna Alicja, University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
ContributorsRendall, Drew
PublisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Psychology, 2010, Arts and Science, Department of Psychology
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
RelationThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)

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