Second-to-Fourth Digit Ratio and the Motivational Bases of Public Service

We report the findings of a study conducted in the Philippines in which we measured the second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D) and various psychometric instruments from a sample of youth interested in running for elective office in their communities (N = 567). We find that 2D:4D has a non-monotonic, quadratic (inverted-U) relationship with the Public Service Motivation index and the Big Five Inventory index for the male subjects in our sample, but not for the females. 2D:4D also has (linear) correlation with the Aspiration index both for males and females.