The tone of your voice shows how faithful you will be
Mar 30, 2011
IF you find a prospective partner doubts your intentions when whispering sweet nothings into their ears, it could be your voice to blame.
IF you find a prospective partner doubts your intentions when whispering sweet nothings into their ears, it could be your voice to blame.
Researchers found that when choosing a companion, women believe the lower the man’s voice, the more likely he is going to cheat.
Conversely, men think a woman with a higher voice is more likely to be unfaithful.
Your tone of voice may be counting against you without you realising.
The study from McMaster University is the first to examine the link between voice pitch and perceived infidelity and offers insight into the evolution of the human voice and how we choose our mates.
Lead author Jillian O’Connor said: “In terms of sexual strategy, we found that men and women will use voice pitch as a warning sign of future betrayal.â€
So the more attractive the voice - a higher pitch for women and lower pitch for men - the more likely the chances he or she will cheat.
Participants in the study, published in the online journal Evolutionary Psychology, were asked to listen to two versions of recorded clips from a male voice and a female voice. They had been electronically manipulated to be both higher and lower in pitch. The group were then asked which one, from each pair, was more likely to cheat sexually on their romantic partner.
Prof. David Feiberg, who advised on the study, said the reason voice pitch influences perceptions of cheating is likely due to the relationship between pitch, hormones and infidelity.
Men with higher testosterone levels have lower pitched voices, and women with higher oestrogen levels have higher pitched voices. High levels of these hormones are associated with adulterous behaviour and our findings indicate individuals are somewhat aware of the link and may use this in their search for a romantic partner.
So next time you want to convince your other half of your good intentions, changing your tone of voice could make you more persuasive.
Researchers found that when choosing a companion, women believe the lower the man’s voice, the more likely he is going to cheat.
Conversely, men think a woman with a higher voice is more likely to be unfaithful.
Your tone of voice may be counting against you without you realising.
The study from McMaster University is the first to examine the link between voice pitch and perceived infidelity and offers insight into the evolution of the human voice and how we choose our mates.
Lead author Jillian O’Connor said: “In terms of sexual strategy, we found that men and women will use voice pitch as a warning sign of future betrayal.â€
So the more attractive the voice - a higher pitch for women and lower pitch for men - the more likely the chances he or she will cheat.
Participants in the study, published in the online journal Evolutionary Psychology, were asked to listen to two versions of recorded clips from a male voice and a female voice. They had been electronically manipulated to be both higher and lower in pitch. The group were then asked which one, from each pair, was more likely to cheat sexually on their romantic partner.
Prof. David Feiberg, who advised on the study, said the reason voice pitch influences perceptions of cheating is likely due to the relationship between pitch, hormones and infidelity.
Men with higher testosterone levels have lower pitched voices, and women with higher oestrogen levels have higher pitched voices. High levels of these hormones are associated with adulterous behaviour and our findings indicate individuals are somewhat aware of the link and may use this in their search for a romantic partner.
So next time you want to convince your other half of your good intentions, changing your tone of voice could make you more persuasive.