From an evolutionary psychological perspective, facial hair is thought to serve an adaptive function in men; however, many men in the modern era choose to shave. Through a cross-national comparison of attitudes toward facial hair as a symbol of masculinity, this study examines gender consciousness.
The face plays socially crucial roles, such as individual identification and emotion recognition. However, how is the face perceived in Indonesia—a nation with a large Muslim population where women wear the hijab, covering their upper bodies and concealing their hair, which is a key component of appearance impression?
Social acceptance of tattoos is relatively high in many Western countries, whereas in Japan it remains limited, suggesting cultural differences in perceptions of body modification. Examining the relationship between attitudes toward tattoos and antisocial behavior from a cross-cultural perspective may help clarify the factors underlying these perceptions and their social-psychological consequences.
Building upon the achievements of last year, this year we aim to conduct an international comparison among Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Taiwan regarding views on the body—specifically concerning facial hair, the face, and tattoos—with the goal of presenting our findings at an international conference.
