A cross-cultural study involving over 3,100 participants from 22 countries revealed that lower voice pitch is universally preferred for long-term relationships and associated with increased formidability and prestige in males. The study's findings are consistent across different cultures, suggesting a universal aspect of human psychology related to voice pitch perceptions. Voice pitch's impact on social evaluations is influenced by societal factors such as relational mobility and violence rates, indicating its adaptability to social environments and highlighting its importance in human interaction and social mobility.
A cross-cultural study found that lower voice pitch makes individuals sound more attractive for long-term relationships and confers a sense of formidability and prestige, particularly among men. The study, published in Psychological Science, suggests that voice pitch influences social perceptions and status evaluation, with lower pitches being preferred for long-term relationships and higher pitches being perceived as more flirtatious. The findings also indicate that perceptions of voice pitch vary across societies based on factors such as relational mobility and homicide rates, shedding light on the evolutionary significance of voice pitch in human social interactions.
A cross-cultural study by Penn State researchers found that lower voice pitch makes both men and women sound more attractive for long-term relationships, while lower voice pitch in males also makes them sound more formidable and prestigious among other men. The study, published in Psychological Science, suggests that voice pitch influences social perceptions and has implications for understanding human evolution and how people confer and evaluate social status. The research also indicates that perceptions of voice pitch vary across societies and are responsive to relevant sociocultural variables.
Researchers at deCODE Genetics have discovered sequence variants in the ABCC9 gene that influence voice pitch. The study utilized speech recordings from nearly 13,000 Icelanders and corresponding genomic data to identify common ABCC9 variants associated with higher voice pitch in both men and women. Additionally, these variants were linked to higher pulse pressure, revealing intriguing connections between voice pitch and health. The study also uncovered a heritable component in vowel acoustics, enhancing our understanding of the human vocal system.
A large-scale genetic study of human voices has identified mutations in the ABCC9 gene that correlate with higher voice pitch, regardless of a person’s sex. ABCC9 contains instructions for making an ion channel that helps to ensure the proper functioning of the proteins collagen and elastin, which help tissues in the body to stretch, including vocal chords. The study also found that people with high-voice-pitch mutations were more likely to have heart conditions, as collagen and elastin help heart muscles to move properly.
