Is there any rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific evidence – specifically from fields like psychology, neuroscience, or genetics – to support the claim, popularized by some historical figures and still circulating online, that a person’s face shape (e.g., round, square, oval, heart-shaped) directly and reliably determines or strongly correlates with specific personality traits, such as being agreeable, assertive, creative, or introverted? I’m particularly interested in research that goes beyond observational studies and anecdotal evidence, and controls for confounding variables like age, sex, ethnicity, and cultural background, and ideally involves objective measurements of both facial features and personality traits. Are there any well-designed studies that show statistically significant and replicable links, or is this primarily pseudoscience and folk wisdom? If there’s no direct link, are there any indirect connections, perhaps mediated by factors like societal perceptions and expectations based on face shape?

Answer

No, there is no credible scientific evidence to support the claim that face shape determines personality. The idea that facial features can reveal personality traits, a concept known as physiognomy, is considered a pseudoscience.

Historically, physiognomy was a popular belief system, with proponents claiming that a person’s character could be assessed based on their facial features. These ideas were often used to justify social biases and discrimination.

Modern scientific research in fields like psychology and neuroscience does not support the assertions of physiognomy. While there are correlations between certain physical traits and some personality characteristics (e.g., attractiveness and social interactions), these are not causational and do not involve determining personality based on facial shape alone.

Studies on personality traits typically rely on self-report questionnaires, behavioral observations, and psychological assessments. Genetic research has identified some genes associated with personality traits, but these genes do not directly dictate facial features in a way that allows for accurate personality prediction.

Neuroscience research focuses on the brain structures and neural processes that underlie personality. Brain imaging techniques, such as fMRI, can reveal correlations between brain activity and personality traits, but these findings do not link facial shapes to specific personality characteristics.

In summary, the claim that face shape determines personality lacks empirical support and is regarded as a pseudoscientific belief.