Voice Attractiveness
When people think of attractiveness, what often comes to
mind is a person’s physical appearance. Given that our visual sense is
dominant, it would stand to reason why physical attributes that can be visibly
seen are predominantly used to evaluate others’ levels of attractiveness.
However, our primary mode of communication in social interactions does not
exploit our visual sense, but rather our auditory system. The sounds, tones,
utterances, intonations, and inflections used in communication also provide a
host of cues that can allow us to decipher one’s attractiveness. Thus, in
addition to physical attractiveness, voice attractiveness plays a crucial role
in mate assessment.
People who have attractive voices tend to show more
bilateral body symmetry, a trait thought to be a marker of developmental
fitness and genetic quality. Women with attractive voices tend to have lower
waist-to-hip ratios (i.e., body figures resembling more of an hourglass shape),
and men with attractive voices tend to have broader shoulders relative to their
hips, or a more V-shape body. These ideal sex-specific body configurations are
revealing of the influence of sex hormones that shape features that signal our
reproductive maturity and potential.
Voices also relay important information directly related
to mating success and sexual behavior; those with voices rated to be more
attractive have had first sexual intercourse at an earlier age, a greater
number of sexual partners, a greater number of affair partners, and a higher
number of partners that they had intercourse with that were involved in another
relationship (i.e., were themselves chosen as an affair partner). Men with
lower pitched, attractive voices have higher reproductive success, having
fathered more children. The variety of features that correlate with how
attractive a voice sounds lends itself to the importance that voice plays in
revealing a person’s mate value, defined by evolutionary psychologists as “the
total sum of the characteristics an individual possesses at a given moment and
within a particular context that impacts their ability to successfully find,
attract, and retain a mate”.
Cultural Differences
The attractiveness of a voice is a subjective concept
that varies among different cultures. Voice attractiveness is influenced by
various factors including, pronunciation, tone, pitch, and accent. In many
cultures, a deep, smooth and soothing voice is considered attractive, while in
other cultures, a high-pitched, nasal, and louder voice is considered
attractive.
Tone
Voice tone, a fundamental aspect of communication, varies
significantly cross-culturally. Tone can be described as the sound of voice,
the attitude expressed, and how a speaker expresses themselves in a
conversation. In different cultures, variations of voice tone impact the
perceived attractiveness of an individual's voice. In this essay, we shall
explore the differences of voice tone perception attractiveness in various
cultures, highlighting the significant role it plays in daily communication.
In some cultures, a deep and masculine voice is often
attributed to importance and authority. So, in Western cultures, a low and
mellow voice is generally considered attractive. The American voiceover artist,
Morgan Freeman, is an example of a person with a low and pleasant tone of voice
that most people find attractive.
In contrast, in African cultures, a high-pitched and
melodic voice is considered attractive. The vibrancy of the voice is perceived
as a mark of confidence, charisma, and authoritative leadership. In African
music, singers modulate their voices melodiously, indicating the cultural value
placed on vocal aesthetics. In the African culture, where masculinity is deemed
as essential, women who speak in a tone that seems domineering or masculine are
deemed unfeminine.
On the other hand, a higher pitched voice among females
in Japanese culture is often associated with cuteness and considered more
polite. Men speaking with a higher pitch in Japan are seen to be less
threatening, and their speech is regarded as pleasant.
In the Indian culture, a soft voice is regarded as a sign
of kindness, politeness, and femininity. Female actors, for instance, are
trained on how to articulate their words softly to enhance their beauty and
make them more appealing to their viewers. In contrast, in the United States, a
loud, boisterous voice is often attributed to extroverted personalities and
considered more attractive. Therefore, individuals who indicate a higher level
of confidence increase their attractiveness to others.
The Spanish language has a musical quality; therefore,
tone, timbre, and rhythm are emphasized in the language. The accent has a singsong
nature, making it more pleasant to the ear. In contrast, the English language
has a more straightforward rhythm and often pays little attention to pitch or
tone. Therefore, soft-spoken individuals sometimes lose the listener's
attention, and their message may not be received well.
The Chinese culture focuses on tonality in the spoken
language, where one Chinese syllable can have different meanings with different
tones. The tone reflects the speaker's intention, emotions, or attitude. A
rising tone, for instance, indicates a question, whereas a falling tone
indicates a statement. Therefore, a person's voice tone affects how their
message is received and understood.
Accent
When it comes to communication, accent also plays a
significant role in how we perceive people. Some accents are considered more
attractive or pleasant to the ear, while others might be perceived as harsh or
unpleasant. Across different cultures, the perception of voice accent
attractiveness may differ based on various factors such as social norms,
personal preferences, and even historical contexts.
In some cultures, certain accents may be perceived as
attractive or indicative of high social status. For example, in India, people
with British accents are often perceived as more sophisticated and
well-educated. Similarly, in China, people might find Mandarin accents more
attractive since it is considered the national language and a symbol of power.
However, these perceptions may vary from person to person, and some may even
feel that a local accent is more authentic and desirable.
In contrast, some dialects may be perceived as less
attractive or associated with negative stereotypes. For example, in the United
States, Southern accents are sometimes stereotyped as backward or uneducated,
while Brooklyn or New York accents may be associated with aggression. However,
these perceptions can be influenced by mainstream media or historical events,
as well as one’s personal background and experiences.
a British accent is considered attractive in America and
other countries, whereas in Britain, an accent from Northern English cities is
often viewed as unfavorable. Similarly, in India, English speakers tend to
attach prestige to Western accents, while in some African and Eastern cultures,
British and Indian accents are often associated with colonialism and cultural
dominance and are, therefore, unattractive.
Interestingly, voice accent perception may also play a
role in romantic attraction and dating preferences. Studies have shown that
people might be more attracted to those who speak with a similar accent or
dialect, suggesting that accents can be used as a way to signal cultural or
social similarities. On the other hand, some people might find it attractive or
exotic to date someone with a distinct accent, signaling a sense of adventure
or cultural appreciation.
Pitch
The cultural beliefs play a significant role in
determining the perception of voice pitch attractiveness. In some cultures,
high-pitched voices are perceived as attractive in women, while deep voices are
desired in men. This is because high-pitched voices are associated with
femininity and youthfulness, while deep voices communicate masculinity and
dominance. For example, in Japan, high-pitched voices are viewed as cute and
desirable in women, while in Russian culture, a deep voice is considered a sign
of attractiveness and strength in men.
Social norms also impact voice pitch perception
attractiveness in different cultures. For instance, some cultures place a
premium on voice modulation and inflection. In India, for example, people view
the use of a wide range of pitches and tones as a sign of good communication
skills and social intelligence. In contrast, in the United States, a monotone
voice is often interpreted as boring or uninteresting. This difference in
social norms can have significant implications for interpersonal communication
and social success.
Biological factors also play a role in determining the
perception of voice pitch attractiveness in different cultures. There is
evidence to suggest that hormonal levels affect the pitch of a person's voice
as well as the perception of voice pitch. For instance, men with higher
testosterone levels tend to have deeper voices than those with lower levels. As
such, cultures that value masculinity and dominance are more likely to perceive
deep voices as attractive.
Pronunciation
Voice pronunciation attractiveness is an interesting and
complex topic that relates to different cultures. In many cultures, voice
attractiveness is based on particular characteristics, including the accent, rhythm,
and tone used in speech. These specific vocal qualities can be perceived as
highly attractive or unattractive depending on the culture.
For instance, in the United States, the Midwestern accent
is typically considered the most standard accent and is often used in media and
other forms of communication. In contrast, accents from the southern regions of
the United States can be seen as less attractive, especially when they are used
in formal settings. Furthermore, the British accent is highly coveted in
American culture, as it is often perceived as refined and intellectual.
In contrast, Chinese culture has a particular emphasis on
tonality and rhythm when it comes to voice attractiveness. The Chinese language
includes four distinct tones, which can alter the meaning of a word. Hence,
individuals who speak with a clear and precise tone are often perceived as
confident and attractive. In contrast, a monotonous tone is frequently judged
negatively in Chinese culture, as it indicates a lack of energy and enthusiasm.
In Japan, the pronunciation of words is critical to
communication success. The Japanese language consists of complex syllables and
intricate intonation, all of which are required to convey the meaning of words
efficiently. In Japan, individuals who are fluent in both informal and formal
language styles, including using honorifics and speaking to senior citizens in
a respectful tone, are considered highly attractive and respected.
Other factors
Similarity
There is something called similarity-attraction effect,
where people trust those who are similar to them. But in some frameworks, foreign-accented
speech can be perceived as more attractive than native-accented speech and speakers
of a foreign language can be perceived as more attractive than speakers of the
listeners’ native language. Based on the
researches, voice qualities vary between languages, even in the same speaker,
and familiarity of language increases how harshly the voices are judged.
Speech rate
Historically, it has been accepted that women speak more
slowly than men, and consequently, this was a desired feature of feminine
speech. However, a study of American
female speakers found likable voices are high, but also exhibit a fast speech
rate and vocal fry.
Prosodic features
One of the studies discovered “prosodic features in
voices that direct listeners to prefer the same voices among both native and
non-native speech.” Prosodic features
relate to expressiveness of communication – frequency (pitch) variation,
energy, fluctuation in loudness and articulation.
Context
Voice likability also depends on the context of the
speech sample, e.g., conversational, lecture, interview, radio commentary, talk
show, etc. These situation-specific
speech styles are known as ‘phonogenre’. In studies that looked at these
parameters, conversational style was considered to be most attractive and
indifferent or lecture styles were least favorable.
Quality and timbre
Another study concluded that most differentiating
parameters were related to voice quality and timbre. These terms refer to the combination of
acoustic parameters that make each voice unique. They result from the miniscule
differences in the vocal tract and how each person manipulates the vocal tract
to achieve resonance - the most nebulous area of voice work. Supporting this assertion, in this study, the
color or tone quality of voice was a feature of ‘likeability’ in voices. Amongst other studies, descriptors such as
“darker” color and “not nasal” were used to describe desirable features of
voice quality.
Sources and Additional Information:
https://www.dynamictherapyuk.com/blog-1/when-it-comes-to-the-sound-of-your-voice-does-culture-matter
https://www.psichi.org/page/203EyeSpr16bHughes
https://theswaddle.com/why-we-like-some-peoples-voices-more-than-others/
https://www.thecut.com/2019/01/is-my-voice-attractive.html