Why Him? Why Her? - Him Her 8

 

What's in a Face?

Take the iris of the eye. The crypts (or pits) of the iris and the furrows (the lines curving around the outer edge of the iris) are linked with specific traits of temperament. People with more furrows are more impulsive, as well as more willing to indulge their cravings—traits of the Explorer. Individuals with more crypts, however, are more trusting, warmhearted and tender—traits of the Negotiator.

Perhaps this is, in part, why we stare into the eyes of a potential lover, even in a photograph. We are unconsciously picking up subtle messages about temperament.

We signal even more about our temperament with the structure of our face. Chiseled and square jaws, high and prominent cheekbones, heavy brow ridges and broad high foreheads are all signs of testosterone activity, the primary chemical of the Director. Even women with elevated testosterone display many of these traits. Just look at the high cheekbones, broad chins and high foreheads of many female celebrities.

Both sexes also signal estrogen levels with their face. Clear smooth skin, full lips, small noses, round soft faces, delicate brow ridges and other babylike facial features all indicate high estrogen activity.

I have found no studies that report on the facial traits associated with dopamine, the dominant chemical of the Explorer, or serotonin, the primary chemical of the Builder. Nevertheless, I suspect Explorers and Builders both have distinctive facial signals—and someday scientists will discover them.

 

The Lure of Words

Explorers, Builders, Directors and Negotiators also signal their particular temperaments with their words.

This proposition has a history, known as the Lexical Hypothesis. In the 1930s, psychologists proposed that when individuals describe themselves they choose words and phrases that emphasize traits they regard as central to who they are. With time, these words become encoded in their speaking habits.

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