Why you can't trust the wide boys: Men with broad faces like North Korean leader are more likely to cheat on their partners and lie

  • Study shows men wide-faced are less trustworthy than thinner counterparts
  • They also tend to be aggressive, violent, bigoted and exploitative
  • But the research also shows they are likely to be more successful

By Stuart Woledge

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It is an established fact that someone with a long face is probably feeling a bit sorry for themselves -  but scientists say people with wide faces are untrustworthy.

Research has shed new light on the motives of 'wide boys' who are more likely to lie and cheat than their thinner faced contemporaries.

But the study also showed that those with larger faces, such as former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and disgraced former US President Richard Nixon, were more cut-throat and therefore more likely to be successful, particularly in business or in politics.

Untrustworthy: New research has revealed men with fat faces, such as Gordon Brown (left) and former US President Richard (right) tend to lie and cheat more than those with thinner faces
Untrustworthy: New research has revealed men with fat faces, such as Gordon Brown (left) and former US President Richard (right) tend to lie and cheat more than those with thinner faces

Untrustworthy: New research has revealed men with fat faces, such as Gordon Brown (left) and former US President Richard (right) tend to be less trustworthy then those with thinner faces

Psychologists from Canada gave 150 men an exercise to complete where they had to roll virtual dice on a screen and then manually write down their score.

They were told that the number they recorded would correspond to the number of tickets they received in a lottery. The researcher then left the room while they completed the task.

 

But software secretly recorded the real total allowing the psychologists to compare it with what the respondent had entered.

About 20 per cent - or one in five - of the men who took part cheated, all of whom had wide faces, according to The Times.

The results of the survey, by Canadian psychologist professor Cheryl McCormick, provides further evidence that those carrying extra weight around their faces tend to display antisocial personalities.

Wide-boy: North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-un is definitely a man to be wary off, according to Canada's research

Wide-boy: North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-un is definitely a man to be wary off, according to Canada's research

Past research has suggested men with fat faces tend to be more aggressive, violent, bigoted and exploitative of their fellow man than those with slimmer cheeks.

Prof McCormick, from Brock University in Ontario, argued they should not consider themselves less worthy.

She said: 'We were measuring within the general population. We have to keep in mind this is something that doesn’t work well at the level of individuals.'

Past research she has carried out revealed people do consider men with wide faces to be more unpleasant, but generally only when making instant judgements.

'This may only be useful to consider when you are encountering strangers and have to make a snap judgment.

'Actual experience of people tells us much, much more than this trait alone.'

However, she also investigated which certain psychopathic personality traits correlated with width of face, and found 'fearless dominance' - where someone has low levels of anxiety while being socially dominant - tended to reflect facial width.

She added: 'There are gains and risks to marrying a man with a wider face.

'Among chief executives dominant traits lead to success in business, even if they may not have behaved in the most ethical fashion. So you could have a wealthier life.

'We have found no relationship between how attractive men are rated and their facial width.

'This could be because there are also certain risks associated with marrying aggressive, dominant men.'

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

Sounds very sexist to me

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Or perhaps it is because they are short with a Napoleon Complex and somethinig to prove?

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that's might be true. There is one who just loves to use people, shameless!

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Oh crumbs, my boss has got a really fat face and I don't think he likes me either!

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That figures, Henry the 8th.

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I'm conducting some exciting new research which suggests statistically they also wear larger hats....

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Well, we should all be worried about moon faced Cameron then!

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These men have scary eyes, the eyes never lie. That is why I am a sucker for puppy dog eyes!

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What nonsense,

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What a stupid article.

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