Better when I'm dancin' — The role of dynamic cues, sex and sexual dimorphism in social perception

Sexual dimorphism, traditionally understood in terms of morphological and static traits, also extends to differences in human movement. This two-study paper explores the impact of correct or incorrect sex information and perceived sexual dimorphism on social perception with a focus on dynamic cues. In study 1, expectations were manipulated by providing correct and incorrect information about individuals' sex presented via motion-capture videos of walking and dancing. When the sex information is correct, aligning with dynamic cues, perceptions of attractiveness, competence, and warmth are significantly enhanced, suggesting the importance of top-down processes in interpreting social cues. The second study examined perception of sexual dimorphism in movement, showing that sexually dimorphic cues, such as gait and dance patterns, strongly influence perceptions of attractiveness and competence. Bothe studies used thirty-six participants each from Prolific. These findings underscore the role of both static and dynamic cues in shaping judgments related to sex, attractiveness, and social competence.