Investigation of the relation between face anatomy and leadership personality trait: Sample of Faculty of Medicine students

The presence of the relationship between the shape of the face and personality traits has been shown in previous studies. Our facial shape has been identified as one of the key elements of our emotional state and personality traits. Facial expressions formed by the reflection of emotions on the face have been determined to have a strong influence on personal traits estimatation, as they provide interpersonal communication. This study have been conducted in order to investigate whether anatomical measurements in our face give an idea about our leadership personality traits. 70 female and 69 male university students have participated in our study. Two face photos from the front and the profile have been taken with the digital camera and transferred to the computer. ImageJ 1.52a (National Institutes of Health, USA) has been used to measure face distances on the photos. 21 measurements including face, eye, eyebrow, nose, mouth and ear distances have been performed. A 32-question questionnaire has been applied to the participants about leadership personality traits. It has been determined that the upper face length in women has shown a very weak positive correlation with the human leadership trait (r=0,242; p=0,031). A very weak positive correlation has been determined between philtrum length and human leadership trait in women (r=0,252; p=0,036). A weak negative correlation between philtrum depth and human leadership trait has been found in women (r=-0,359; p=0,002). A very weak positive correlation between philtrum length and charismatic leadership trait in women (r=0,256; p=0,032). When the correlation coefficients and significancy levels between leadership traits and facial anatomical measurements in the men have been examined, no statistically significant results have been found.As a result, some facial measurements in women may give information about leadership personality trait.