Barack Obama's Voice Pitch Found to Be Among Most Attractive, Study Reveals
New research indicates that a moderate vocal pitch of 95Hz, similar to that of former President Barack Obama, is perceived as most attractive by women.
New research suggests that men seeking to enhance their vocal appeal might benefit from a moderate pitch rather than an artificially deepened one. A study found that a vocal frequency of approximately 95Hz strikes an attractive balance, a pitch range similar to that of former President Barack Obama, actors Gerard Butler, and Jason Momoa.
The research, conducted by a team from Durham University, involved 1,466 participants from the United States who rated videos of 17 men speaking with digitally altered voice frequencies. The participants judged the voices on traits including attractiveness and dominance. The findings were published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
While deeper voices are often associated with masculinity, dominance, strength, and influence, the study indicated that excessively low pitches can be less appealing. Voices at 75Hz, similar to Vin Diesel's, were rated less attractive than those at the 95Hz mark. Conversely, higher-pitched voices, such as those at 115Hz and 135Hz (comparable to comedian Kevin Hart), were perceived as less attractive and less dominant by both men and women.
Researchers noted that the preference for the 95Hz pitch likely stems from its ability to sound masculine without being excessively deep. The study suggests that the common belief that "deeper is better" may be an oversimplification, with an aversion to overly feminine voices driving the preference for vocal masculinity more than a strong desire for extremely deep tones.
This research comes as scientists have recently issued warnings about the trend known as "voicemaxxing," where individuals attempt to deepen their voices through various exercises, sometimes leading to vocal strain and damage. Australian scientists Samuel Cornell, Krista Fisher, and Rob Brooks cautioned that habitually speaking at an artificially low pitch can contribute to muscle tension dysphonia, a condition that causes the voice to sound rough, tight, or breathy, and can lead to voice loss mid-sentence.