Forensic Analysis of Sexual Dimorphism from Facial Photographs

Abstract

Background: Techniques for identifying facial features and proving the individuality of a person’s facial features are used in forensic anthropology. Aims and Objectives: A common method in this area is cranial anthropometry, which has uses in facial reconstruction, locating unidentified remains, and identifying criminal suspects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study analyzed 200 standard full-face photographs of 50 males and 50 females to compare frontal and lateral facial images and identify male and female facial traits. We located landmarks and measured the distances between them. The data were analyzed using statistical tests like t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. Result: The results showed that in 100% of the suggested measurements for both males and females, there were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) between frontal and lateral views. The ANOVA test, however, showed that all suggested measurements showed differences in the lateral aspect, while only 76.92% of them showed differences between the male and female groups in the frontal aspect. Conclusion: In conclusion, statistically significant differences were found, rejecting the null hypothesis of equal means, when the level of significance (α) was lower than the P value (0.05). On the other hand, the null hypothesis was accepted when statistically insignificant differences were found and the level of significance was higher than the P value. Although there were differences between males and females in different views, the distances between landmarks in frontal and lateral views of the same person were generally similar. Measurements taken in the lateral aspect were more accurate and displayed greater sexual dimorphism variation compared to those taken in the frontal aspect.

Keywords

• anthropometry
• craniofacial
• facial feature
• landmarks
• personal identification
• somatic measurements