Abstract Voice pitch is the primary perceptual correlate of fundamental frequency (fo) and describes how low or high a voice is perceived by listeners. Prior research showed that men whose habitual voice pitch is lower are perceived to have stronger fighting ability. However, voice pitch is also flexible and can thus be used facultatively to signal states that change situationally, such as current aggressive intent (i.e., readiness to use aggression). Drawing on motivation-structural-rules theory, this research tests the hypothesis that male speakers will be perceived as more likely to attack when they lower (compared to raise) their pitch to address an adversary in a conflict situation. Three experiments using male speakers and listeners supported this hypothesis, both with and without controlling for the perception of the speakers' fighting ability. In contrast, the same experiments found no evidence that pitch lowering enhanced the speakers' perceived fighting ability after controlling for their perceived aggressive intent. Moreover, we found mixed evidence that the speakers' perceived physical strength interacted with pitch modulation to influence their perceived aggressive intent. On balance, these findings show that, at least for men, pitch modulation is primarily an aggressive-intent signal assessed independently of signalers' fighting ability. Future research should distinguish between perceptions of aggressive-intent and fighting-ability when examining the perceptual effects of male voice-pitch modulation in intrasexual competition.

中文翻译：

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降低音调会增强男性感知到的攻击意图，而不是战斗能力

摘要 音高是基本频率 (fo) 的主要感知关联，描述了听众感知到的声音的低或高。先前的研究表明，习惯性音调较低的男性被认为具有更强的战斗力。然而，语音音调也是灵活的，因此可以兼用性地用于表示随情况变化的状态，例如当前的攻击意图（即准备使用攻击）。本研究借鉴动机结构规则理论，检验了以下假设：男性演讲者在冲突情况下降低（与升高相比）音调以应对对手时，会被认为更有可能进行攻击。三个使用男性演讲者和听众的实验支持了这一假设，无论是否控制了演讲者的感知 战斗能力。相比之下，相同的实验没有发现证据表明降低音调会在控制了他们感知到的攻击意图后增强了说话者的感知战斗能力。此外，我们发现混合证据表明说话者的感知体力与音调调制相互作用以影响他们感知的攻击意图。总的来说，这些发现表明，至少对男性而言，音调调制主要是一种攻击性意图信号，与信号员的战斗能力无关。未来的研究应该在检查男性音调调制在性内竞争中的感知效果时区分攻击意图和战斗能力的感知。在控制了他们感知到的攻击意图后感知到的战斗能力。此外，我们发现混合证据表明说话者的感知体力与音调调制相互作用以影响他们感知的攻击意图。总的来说，这些发现表明，至少对男性而言，音调调制主要是一种攻击性意图信号，与信号员的战斗能力无关。未来的研究应该在检查男性音调调制在性内竞争中的感知效果时区分攻击意图和战斗能力的感知。在控制了他们感知到的攻击意图后感知到的战斗能力。此外，我们发现混合证据表明说话者的感知体力与音调调制相互作用以影响他们感知的攻击意图。总的来说，这些发现表明，至少对男性而言，音调调制主要是一种攻击性意图信号，与信号员的战斗能力无关。未来的研究应该在检查男性音调调制在性内竞争中的感知效果时区分攻击意图和战斗能力的感知。这些发现表明，至少对男性而言，音调调制主要是一种攻击性意图信号，与信号员的战斗能力无关。未来的研究应该在检查男性音调调制在性内竞争中的感知效果时区分攻击意图和战斗能力的感知。这些发现表明，至少对男性而言，音调调制主要是一种攻击性意图信号，与信号员的战斗能力无关。未来的研究应该在检查男性音调调制在性内竞争中的感知效果时区分攻击意图和战斗能力的感知。