1
|
Ougrin D, Woodhouse E, Tucker G, Ronaldson A, Bakolis I. The Prevalence of Behavioural Symptoms and Psychiatric Disorders in Hadza Children. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22061. [PMID: 38086816 PMCID: PMC10716231 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48114-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The worldwide pooled prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children is 13.4%. Studying the prevalence of childhood psychiatric disorders across radically different economic systems and social structures could indicate universal factors leading to their development. The prevalence of childhood psychiatric disorders in a mixed-subsistence foraging society has not been studied. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Development and Well-Being Assessment were used to compare the prevalence of behavioural symptoms and psychiatric disorders in Hadza children aged 5-16 years (n = 113) to a nationally representative sample from England (n = 18,029) using a cross-sectional study design. Emotional problems, conduct problems and hyperactivity were lower in the Hadza children. Prosocial behaviour and peer problems were higher in Hadza children. 3.6% of Hadza children met the criteria for a psychiatric disorder compared to 11.8% of English children. All psychiatric disorders in Hadza children were co-morbid with autism spectrum disorder. No child from the Hadza group met the criteria for an emotional, behaviour or eating disorder. Further work should study the factors which lead to the different prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Hadza children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Ougrin
- Youth Resilience Unit, Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Services Development, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
| | - Emma Woodhouse
- Compass Psychology Services, Bromley, Kent, UK
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gavin Tucker
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Amy Ronaldson
- Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ioannis Bakolis
- Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Marković S, Bulut T. Tendencies Toward Supernormality/Subnormality in Generating Attractive and Unattractive Female and Male Avatars: Gender Differences. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2023; 52:2317-2336. [PMID: 36995537 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02575-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the differences in the experience of attractiveness and unattractiveness of human bodies. A total of 101 participants (55 females) were asked to create the most attractive and the most unattractive female and male figures using a computer animation. They performed this task by adjusting the size of six body parts: shoulders, breasts/chest, waist, hips, buttocks, and legs. Analyses indicated that attractive body parts were distributed normally with the peak shifted to moderately supernormal sizes, while unattractive body parts had mostly U-shaped or skewed distributions with extremes in super-supernormal and/or subnormal sizes. Generally, both male and female attractive bodies had prominent "sporty" look: supernormally wide shoulders and long legs. Gender differences showed that men prefer more supernomal masculine and feminine sizes, while women show an ambivalence toward both groups of traits. Principal components analysis revealed gender differences on the multitrait level: males focus on prominent masculine and feminine traits, while women focus on traits that make both male and female bodies more elongated and slender. Gender differences were in line with specific male and female positions in the partner selection process, while a certain tendency toward masculinization of the female body required the inclusion of social factors, such as the influence of the culture of a sporty and fit look.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Slobodan Marković
- Faculty of Philosophy, Laboratory for Experimental Psychology and Department of Psychology, University of Belgrade, Čika Ljubina 18-20, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Tara Bulut
- Faculty of Philosophy, Laboratory for Experimental Psychology and Department of Psychology, University of Belgrade, Čika Ljubina 18-20, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Han C, Li X, Wang S, Hong R, Ji J, Chen J, Zhu H, Morrison ER, Lei X. The picky men: Men's preference for women's body differed among attractiveness, health, and fertility conditions. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
4
|
A cost for signaling: do Hadza hunter-gatherers forgo calories to show-off in an experimental context? EVOL HUM BEHAV 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
5
|
Babaeizad A, Fallahchai R, Abbasnejad T. Mate-value and relationship satisfaction: The moderating roles of mate retention behaviors. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262154. [PMID: 35041697 PMCID: PMC8765655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research indicates that mate retention strategies are associated with mate value and affect relationship satisfaction. The current research aimed to replicate previous findings in a non-WEIRD society (Iran) and to extend this research by investigating the moderating roles of individual and coalitional mate retention. Participants (n = 754; 416 women) in a committed, heterosexual relationship from two independent samples reported (1) their relationship satisfaction, (2) their partner's mate value, (3) the frequency of performing individual mate retention, and (4) the frequency of requesting coalitional mate retention. Results indicated that there were positive associations between mate value, individual and coalitional Benefit-Provisioning mate retention behaviors, and relationship satisfaction. We found negative associations between individual and coalitional Cost-Inflicting mate retention behaviors and relationship satisfaction. We found that mate retention moderated the relationship between mate value and relationship satisfaction. Limitations of the current study are noted, and future directions are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Babaeizad
- Department of Psychology, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Reza Fallahchai
- Department of Psychology, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Tayebeh Abbasnejad
- Faculty of Management and Accounting, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Barlev M, Ko A, Krems JA, Neuberg SL. Weight Location Moderates Weight-Based Self-Devaluation and Perceived Social Devaluation in Women. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/19485506211060724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Overweight and obese (“heavyweight”) people devalue themselves because, it has been proposed, they are socially devalued. However, for women, social valuation depends not only on how much weight they carry but also on where on their bodies they carry it. Here, we investigated whether weight-based self-valuation and perceived social valuation similarly depend on body shape. Study 1, using a nationally representative sample from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; N = 1,093 reproductive-aged women), showed that, controlling for body fat, weight labeling (by self and others) and wanting to lose weight depended on body shape. Study 2, in a direct test of predictions using an undergraduate sample of women ( N = 215), showed that with increased body fat, women with an abdominal weight distribution reported more self-devaluation (e.g., lower self-esteem) and perceived social devaluation (e.g., higher perceived weight discrimination); women with a gluteofemoral weight distribution, however, were shielded—partially or fully—from these adverse effects of increased body fat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahra Ko
- Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Lassek WD, Gaulin SJC. Does Nubility Indicate More Than High Reproductive Value? Nubile Primiparas' Pregnancy Outcomes in Evolutionary Perspective. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 19:14747049211039506. [PMID: 34524917 PMCID: PMC10355305 DOI: 10.1177/14747049211039506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The idea that human males are most strongly attracted to traits that peak in women in the nubile age group raises the question of how well women in that age group contend with the potential hazards of a first pregnancy. Using data for 1.7 million first births from 1990 U.S. natality and mortality records, we compared outcomes for women with first births (primiparas) aged 16-20 years (when first births typically occur in forager and subsistence groups) with those aged 21-25 years. The younger primiparas had a much lower risk of potentially life-threatening complications of labor and delivery and, when evolutionarily novel risk factors were controlled, fetuses which were significantly more likely to survive despite lower birth weights. Thus, nubile primiparas were more likely to have a successful reproductive outcome defined in an evolutionarily relevant way (an infant of normal birth weight and gestation, surviving to one year, and delivered without a medically necessary cesarean delivery). This suggests that prior to the widespread availability of surgical deliveries, men who mated with women in the nubile age group would have reaped the benefit of having a reproductive partner more likely to have a successful first pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William D. Lassek
- Department of Anthropology, HSSB 2001, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Steven J. C. Gaulin
- Department of Anthropology, HSSB 2001, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Krems JA, Neuberg SL. Updating Long-Held Assumptions About Fat Stigma: For Women, Body Shape Plays a Critical Role. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1177/1948550621991381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Heavier bodies—particularly female bodies—are stigmatized. Such fat stigma is pervasive, painful to experience, and may even facilitate weight gain, thereby perpetuating the weight-stigma cycle. Leveraging research on functionally distinct forms of fat (deposited on different parts of the body), we propose that body shape plays an important but largely underappreciated role in fat stigma, above and beyond fat amount. Across three samples varying in participant ethnicity (White and Black Americans) and nation (United States, India), patterns of fat stigma reveal that, as hypothesized, participants differently stigmatized equally overweight or equally obese female targets as a function of target shape, sometimes even more strongly stigmatizing targets with less rather than more body mass. Such findings suggest value in updating our understanding of fat stigma to include body shape and in querying a predominating, but often implicit, theoretical assumption that people simply view all fat as ‘bad’ (and more fat as ‘worse’).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaimie Arona Krems
- Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis (OCEAN), Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ndassi VD, Anchang-Kimbi JK, Sumbele IUN, Ngufor LA, Nadege K, Kimbi HK. The epidemiological status of urogenital schistosomiasis among reproductive aged individuals in the Tiko Health Area- a semi-urban setting in the Mount Cameroon area. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0008978. [PMID: 33428614 PMCID: PMC7822554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) caused by S. haematobium has enormous reproductive health consequences including infertility. Reproductive aged individuals are a neglected group and not included in control programs in Cameroon. This study investigated the prevalence and severity of S. haematobium infection in the context of gender and socio-economic structures that shape behaviour among reproductive aged individuals living in Tiko, a semi-urban setting, Cameroon. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Tiko Health District (THD) between May to September 2019. Consenting individuals were enrolled using a convenient sampling technique and administered a semi-structured questionnaire to document data on socio-demographic and stream contact behaviour. A urine sample was collected and screened for the presence of S. haematobium ova using reagent strips, filtration and microscopy. The overall prevalence of S. haematobium infection was 22.8% (95% CL: 19.27-26.73) with geometric mean egg load of 18.74 (range: 1-1600) per 10ml of urine. Younger age group (15 - 20years) (OR: 5.13; 95% CL: 1.35-19.42), male (OR: 2.60 3.07; 95% CL: 1.54-4.40) and awareness of UGS (OR: 1.73; 95% CL: 1.02-2.95) were associated with higher odds of exposure to infection. Significantly higher intensity of infection was seen in males, singles and in the age group 15-30 years. It is worth noting that males carried out more activities which entailed longer duration in streams. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE The prevalence obtained shows that Tiko is a moderate-risk area for UGS with underlying morbidity-inducing infection intensity. The severity of the infection is more in males. Awareness of the disease is not enough to protect these communities from infection, but provision of public infrastructures and health education will limit contact with infested water and thus curtail the infection. There is an urgent need to involve all age groups in control programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vicky Daonyle Ndassi
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - Irene Ule Ngole Sumbele
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Lennin Azaofah Ngufor
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Kouemou Nadege
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Helen Kuokuo Kimbi
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cohen E, Ndao A, Bernard JY, Gueye A, Duboz P, Macia E, Boëtsch G, Pasquet P, Holdsworth M, Gradidge PJL. Development and validation of the body shape scale (BOSHAS) for assessing body shape perception in African populations. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1562. [PMID: 33066748 PMCID: PMC7566052 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09654-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As a consequence of ‘Western’ acculturation, eating disorders and body image disturbances, such as fatness phobia and body dysmorphic disorders towards musculature and body shape, are emerging in Africa, with young people the most affected. It is therefore important to accurately assess perceptions of body shape. However, the existing body image assessment scales lack sufficient accuracy and validity testing to compare body shape perception across different African populations. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Body Shape Scale (BOSHAS) to evaluate body shape perceptions related body image disorders in African populations. Methods To develop the BOSHAS, anthropometric measures of 80 Cameroonians and 81 Senegalese (both sexes included; 40.1% females overall) were taken for three body shape criteria: somatotype components, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio. Subjects were selected to cover a wide variability in body shape and were photographed in full face and profile positions. To validate the BOSHAS, the scale was administered twice (2 weeks apart) to 106 participants (aged 31.2 ± 12.6 years) to assess its reliability. In addition, a questionnaire measuring different aspects of body shape (e.g. musculature) was also administered (n = 597; aged 36.7 ± 15.6 years) to assess its convergent validity. Results The BOSHAS includes two sex-specific subscales of 10 photographs each. Most participants were able to repeat their BOSHAS preference order. Test-retest reliability was also consistent in estimating Current Body Shape (CBS), Desired Body Shape and Ideal Body Shape for participants and their partners. CBS was correlated with BMI, and different BOSHAS indices were consistent with declarations obtained by questionnaire. Conclusions The BOSHAS is the first sex-specific scale of real African models photographed in face and profile, including large body shape variability. The validation protocol showed good validity and reliability for evaluating body shape perceptions and dissatisfaction of Africans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Cohen
- CNRS, UMR 7206 « Eco-anthropologie », Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France. .,CNRS, UMR 7178 « Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert CURIEN », Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. .,MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Amadou Ndao
- CNRS, UMR 8177, IIAC-LAIOS, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris, France.,Raum IG 551, Université de Francfort sur le Main, Institut Ethnologie, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Jonathan Y Bernard
- Inserm, UMR 1153, Centre of research Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité (CRESS), Early Determinants of Children's Health and Development (ORCHAD) team, Villejuif, France.,Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Amadoune Gueye
- CNRS, UMI 3189 « Environnement, Santé, Société », Faculté de Médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Priscilla Duboz
- CNRS, UMI 3189 « Environnement, Santé, Société », Faculté de Médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Enguerran Macia
- CNRS, UMI 3189 « Environnement, Santé, Société », Faculté de Médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Gilles Boëtsch
- CNRS, UMI 3189 « Environnement, Santé, Société », Faculté de Médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Patrick Pasquet
- CNRS, UMR 7206 « Eco-anthropologie », Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | | | - Philippe Jean-Luc Gradidge
- Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Pazhoohi F, Macedo AF, Doyle JF, Arantes J. Waist-to-Hip Ratio as Supernormal Stimuli: Effect of Contrapposto Pose and Viewing Angle. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2020; 49:837-847. [PMID: 31214904 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-019-01486-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In women, the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is an indicator of attractiveness, health, youthfulness, and reproductive potential. In the current study, we hypothesized that viewing angle and body postures influence the attractiveness of these forms based on the view dependency of WHR stimuli (vdWHR). Using eye tracking, we quantified the number of fixations and dwell time on 3D images of a female avatar in two different poses (standing and contrapposto) from eight viewing angles incrementing in 45 degrees of rotation. A total of 68 heterosexual individuals (25 men and 43 women) participated in the study. Results showed that the contrapposto pose was perceived as more attractive than the standing pose and that lower vdWHR sides of the stimuli attracted more first fixation, total fixations, and dwell time. Overall, the results supported that WHR is view-dependent and vdWHRs lower than optimal WHRs are supernormal stimuli that may generate peak shifts in responding. Results are discussed in terms of the attractiveness of women's movements (gaits and dance) and augmented artistic presentations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farid Pazhoohi
- Department of Basic Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710 - 057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Antonio F Macedo
- Vision Rehabilitation Laboratory, Department and Centre of Physics, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Department of Medicine and Optometry, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | | | - Joana Arantes
- Department of Basic Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710 - 057, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Waist to hip ratio and breast size modulate the processing of female body silhouettes: An EEG study. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
13
|
Ko A, Pick CM, Kwon JY, Barlev M, Krems JA, Varnum MEW, Neel R, Peysha M, Boonyasiriwat W, Brandstätter E, Crispim AC, Cruz JE, David D, David OA, de Felipe RP, Fetvadjiev VH, Fischer R, Galdi S, Galindo O, Golovina G, Gomez-Jacinto L, Graf S, Grossmann I, Gul P, Hamamura T, Han S, Hitokoto H, Hřebíčková M, Johnson JL, Karl JA, Malanchuk O, Murata A, Na J, O J, Rizwan M, Roth E, Salgado SAS, Samoylenko E, Savchenko T, Sevincer AT, Stanciu A, Suh EM, Talhelm T, Uskul AK, Uz I, Zambrano D, Kenrick DT. Family Matters: Rethinking the Psychology of Human Social Motivation. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2019; 15:173-201. [DOI: 10.1177/1745691619872986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
What motives do people prioritize in their social lives? Historically, social psychologists, especially those adopting an evolutionary perspective, have devoted a great deal of research attention to sexual attraction and romantic-partner choice (mate seeking). Research on long-term familial bonds (mate retention and kin care) has been less thoroughly connected to relevant comparative and evolutionary work on other species, and in the case of kin care, these bonds have been less well researched. Examining varied sources of data from 27 societies around the world, we found that people generally view familial motives as primary in importance and mate-seeking motives as relatively low in importance. Compared with other groups, college students, single people, and men place relatively higher emphasis on mate seeking, but even those samples rated kin-care motives as more important. Furthermore, motives linked to long-term familial bonds are positively associated with psychological well-being, but mate-seeking motives are associated with anxiety and depression. We address theoretical and empirical reasons why there has been extensive research on mate seeking and why people prioritize goals related to long-term familial bonds over mating goals. Reallocating relatively greater research effort toward long-term familial relationships would likely yield many interesting new findings relevant to everyday people’s highest social priorities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahra Ko
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University
| | - Cari M. Pick
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Daniel David
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeş-Bolyai University
| | - Oana A. David
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeş-Bolyai University
| | | | | | - Ronald Fischer
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington
- Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, Instituto D’Or de Pesquisa e Ensino, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Silvia Galdi
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli
| | | | | | - Luis Gomez-Jacinto
- Department of Social Psychology, Social Anthropology, Social Work and Social Services, University of Malaga
| | - Sylvie Graf
- Institute of Psychology, Czech Academy of Sciences
| | | | - Pelin Gul
- Department of Psychology, Iowa State University
| | | | - Shihui Han
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University
| | | | | | | | - Johannes A. Karl
- Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, Instituto D’Or de Pesquisa e Ensino, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Asuka Murata
- Center for Experimental Research in Social Sciences, Hokkaido University
| | | | - Jiaqing O
- Department of Psychology, Aberystwyth University
| | | | - Eric Roth
- Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, Universidad Católica Boliviana
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Irem Uz
- Department of Psychology, TOBB University of Economics and Technology
| | - Danilo Zambrano
- Department of Psychology, Fundación Universitaria Konrad Lorenz
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lassek WD, Gaulin SJ. Evidence supporting nubility and reproductive value as the key to human female physical attractiveness. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
|
15
|
Bovet J. Evolutionary Theories and Men's Preferences for Women's Waist-to-Hip Ratio: Which Hypotheses Remain? A Systematic Review. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1221. [PMID: 31244708 PMCID: PMC6563790 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last 25 years, a large amount of research has been dedicated to identifying men's preferences for women's physical features, and the evolutionary benefits associated with such preferences. Today, this area of research generates substantial controversy and criticism. I argue that part of the crisis is due to inaccuracies in the evolutionary hypotheses used in the field. For this review, I focus on the extensive literature regarding men's adaptive preferences for women's waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), which has become a classic example of the just-so storytelling contributing to the general mistrust toward evolutionary explanations of human behavior. The issues in this literature originate in the vagueness and incompleteness of the theorizing of the evolutionary mechanisms leading to mate preferences. Authors seem to have rushed into testing and debating the effects of WHR on women's attractiveness under various conditions and using different stimuli, without first establishing (a) clear definitions of the central evolution concepts (e.g., female mate value is often reduced to an imprecise concept of "health-and-fertility"), and (b) a complete overview of the distinct evolutionary paths potentially at work (e.g., focusing on fecundability while omitting descendants' quality). Unsound theoretical foundations will lead to imprecise predictions which cannot properly be tested, thus ultimately resulting in the premature rejection of an evolutionary explanation to human mate preferences. This paper provides the first comprehensive review of the existing hypotheses on why men's preferences for a certain WHR in women might be adaptive, as well as an analysis of the theoretical credibility of these hypotheses. By dissecting the evolutionary reasoning behind each hypothesis, I show which hypotheses are plausible and which are unfit to account for men's preferences for female WHR. Moreover, the most cited hypotheses (e.g., WHR as a cue of health or fecundity) are found to not necessarily be the ones with the strongest theoretical support, and some promising hypotheses (e.g., WHR as a cue of parity or current pregnancy) have seemingly been mostly overlooked. Finally, I suggest some directions for future studies on human mate choice, to move this evolutionary psychology literature toward a stronger theoretical foundation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne Bovet
- Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Nutrition, the visceral immune system, and the evolutionary origins of pathogenic obesity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 116:723-731. [PMID: 30598443 PMCID: PMC6338860 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1809046116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The global obesity epidemic is the subject of an immense, diversely specialized research effort. An evolutionary analysis reveals connections among disparate findings, starting with two well-documented facts: Obesity-associated illnesses (e.g., type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease), are especially common in: (i) adults with abdominal obesity, especially enlargement of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), a tissue with important immune functions; and (ii) individuals with poor fetal nutrition whose nutritional input increases later in life. I hypothesize that selection favored the evolution of increased lifelong investment in VAT in individuals likely to suffer lifelong malnutrition because of its importance in fighting intraabdominal infections. Then, when increased nutrition violates the adaptive fetal prediction of lifelong nutritional deficit, preferential VAT investment could contribute to abdominal obesity and chronic inflammatory disease. VAT prioritization may help explain several patterns of nutrition-related disease: the paradoxical increase of chronic disease with increased food availability in recently urbanized and migrant populations; correlations between poor fetal nutrition, improved childhood (catch-up) growth, and adult metabolic syndrome; and survival differences between children with marasmus and kwashiorkor malnutrition. Fats and sugars can aggravate chronic inflammation via effects on intestinal bacteria regulating gut permeability to visceral pathogens. The extremes in a nutrition-sensitive trade-off between visceral (immune-function) vs. subcutaneous (body shape) adiposity may have been favored by selection in highly stratified premedicine societies. Altered adipose allocation in populations with long histories of social stratification and malnutrition may be the result of genetic accommodation of developmental responses to poor maternal/fetal conditions, increasing their vulnerability to inflammatory disease.
Collapse
|
17
|
Del Zotto M, Framorando D, Pegna AJ. Waist-to-hip ratio affects female body attractiveness and modulates early brain responses. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 52:4490-4498. [PMID: 30347463 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This investigation examined the electrophysiological response underlying the visual processing of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in female bodies, a characteristic known to affect perceived attractiveness. WHRs of female bodies were artificially adjusted to values of 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 or 0.9. Behavioural ratings of attractiveness of the bodies revealed a preference for WHRs of 0.7 in the overall group of participants, which included both male and female heterosexual individuals. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were then recorded while participants performed a selective attention task involving photographs of female models and scrambled images. Results showed that the P1 (80-120 ms) and N1 (130-170 ms) components situated over posterior brain regions were the earliest components to be modulated by attention and bodies. Interestingly, the vertex-positive potential, occurring between 120-180 ms, produced a greater positivity for WHRs of 0.7 compared to the other ratios. However, this increase was only observed when the body stimuli were attended, while no effect was observed for unattended bodies. These findings provide evidence of an early brain sensitivity to visual attributes that constitute secondary sexual characteristics. Although they are relatively discrete from the point of view of their physical quality, these signs possess strong behavioural significance, producing greater reported attractiveness, likely by conveying the biological meaning that signals good health and greater reproductive success. Our results therefore reveal that attributes associated with sexual attractiveness in female bodies are processed rapidly in the stream of visual processing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Del Zotto
- Division of Medical Information Sciences, Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, CH-1211, Switzerland.,Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - David Framorando
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alan J Pegna
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland.,School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Lassek WD, Gaulin SJC. Do the Low WHRs and BMIs Judged Most Attractive Indicate Higher Fertility? EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2018; 16:1474704918800063. [PMID: 30296846 PMCID: PMC10480809 DOI: 10.1177/1474704918800063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We examine the widely accepted view that very low waist-hip ratios and low body mass indices (BMIs) in women in well-nourished populations are judged attractive by men because these features reliably indicate superior fertility. In both subsistence and well-nourished populations, relevant studies of fertility do not support this view. Rather studies indicate lower fertility in women with anthropometric values associated with high attractiveness. Moreover, low maternal BMI predisposes to conditions that compromise infant survival. Consistent with these findings from the literature, new data from a large U.S. sample of women past reproductive age show that women with lower BMIs in the late teens had fewer live births, controlling for education, marital history, and race. They also had later menarche and earlier menopause compared with women with higher youth BMIs. In addition, data from the 2013 U.S. natality database show that mothers with lower prepregnancy BMIs have an increased risk of producing both low-birth-weight and preterm infants controlling for other relevant variables-conditions that would have adversely affected fitness over almost all of human evolution. Thus, a review of the relevant literature and three new tests fail to support the view that highly attractive women are more fertile.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William D. Lassek
- Department of Anthropology, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Steven J. C. Gaulin
- Department of Anthropology, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Lassek WD, Gaulin SJC. Do the Low WHRs and BMIs Judged Most Attractive Indicate Better Health? EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2018; 16:1474704918803998. [PMID: 30296849 PMCID: PMC10367492 DOI: 10.1177/1474704918803998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
It is widely claimed that in well-nourished populations, very low female waist-hip ratios (WHRs) together with low body mass indices (BMIs) are judged attractive by men because these features reliably indicate superior health and fertility. However, studies show that mortality rates are higher in women with low BMIs than in women with average BMIs and are inversely related to BMI in subsistence populations. Measures of current health in women of reproductive age have not been similarly studied. We analyze large U.S. samples of reproductive-age women and show that controlling for other factors known to affect health, those with low BMIs (<20), WHRs, or waist/stature ratios did not have better health than those with values in the middle range, and there was no relationship between subsequent health outcomes and BMI in early adulthood. Lower self-reported BMIs were linked to poorer health and an increased risk of infection. However, based on recent U.S. natality data, primiparas with lower BMIs had a lower risk of an operative delivery and of gestational hypertension. Beyond these two parity-restricted effects, relevant studies and new tests fail to support the view that women with the very low BMIs and WHRs consistently judged attractive are generally healthier than women with average values; significant correlations were consistently in the opposite direction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William D. Lassek
- Department of Anthropology, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Steven J. C. Gaulin
- Department of Anthropology, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kruger HS, Seru T, Mchiza ZJ, Speakman JR. The relationship between female adiposity and physical attractiveness amongst adults in rural Ranaka village, Botswana. SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/16070658.2018.1502909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H Salome Kruger
- Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Tumelo Seru
- Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Zandile J Mchiza
- School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - John R Speakman
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Thornborrow T, Jucker JL, Boothroyd LG, Tovée MJ. Investigating the link between television viewing and men's preferences for female body size and shape in rural Nicaragua. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
|
22
|
Jünger J, Kordsmeyer TL, Gerlach TM, Penke L. Fertile women evaluate male bodies as more attractive, regardless of masculinity. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
23
|
Morrison ER, Bain H, Pattison L, Whyte-Smith H. Something in the way she moves: biological motion, body shape, and attractiveness in women. VISUAL COGNITION 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/13506285.2018.1471560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edward R. Morrison
- Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Hannah Bain
- Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Louise Pattison
- Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Hannah Whyte-Smith
- Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Cornelissen PL, Cornelissen KK, Groves V, McCarty K, Tovée MJ. View-dependent accuracy in body mass judgements of female bodies. Body Image 2018; 24:116-123. [PMID: 29414144 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A fundamental issue in testing body image perception is how to present the test stimuli. Previous studies have almost exclusively used images of bodies viewed in front-view, but this potentially obscures key visual cues used to judge adiposity reducing the ability to make accurate judgements. A potential solution is to use a three-quarter view, which combines visual cues to body fat that can be observed in front and profile. To test this hypothesis, 20 female observers completed a 2-alternative forced choice paradigm to determine the smallest difference in body fat detectable in female bodies in front, three-quarter, and profile view. There was a significant advantage for three-quarter and profile relative to front-view. Discrimination accuracy is predicted by the saliency of stomach depth, suggesting that this is a key visual cue used to judge body mass. In future, bodies should ideally be presented in three-quarter to accurately assess body size discrimination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piers L Cornelissen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Katri K Cornelissen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Victoria Groves
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Kristofor McCarty
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Martin J Tovée
- School of Psychology, College of Social Science, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7TS, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Electrophysiological evidence of perceived sexual attractiveness for human female bodies varying in waist-to-hip ratio. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2018; 17:577-591. [PMID: 28315140 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-017-0498-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The dynamics of brain activation reflecting attractiveness in humans are unclear. Among the different features affecting attractiveness of the female body, the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is considered to be crucial. To date, however, no event-related potential (ERP) study has addressed the question of its associated pattern of brain activation. We carried out two different experiments: (a) a behavioural study, to judge the level of attractiveness of female realistic models depicting 4 different WHRs (0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9) with and without clothes; (b) an EEG paradigm, to record brain activity while participants (heterosexual men and women) viewed these same models. Behavioural results showed that WHRs of 0.7 were considered more attractive than the others. ERP analyses revealed a different pattern of activation for male and female viewers. The 0.7 ratio elicited greater positivity at the P1 level in male viewers but not females. Naked bodies increased the N190 in both groups and peaked earlier for the 0.7 ratio in the male viewers. Finally, the late positive component (LPC) was found to be greater in male than in female viewers and was globally more marked for naked bodies as well as WHRs of 0.7 in both groups of viewers. These results provide the first electrophysiological evidence of specific time periods linked to the processing of a body feature denoting attractiveness and therefore playing a role in mate choice.
Collapse
|
26
|
Moses MO, Osei F, Appiah EJ, Obour A, Akwa LG, Baffour-Awuah B, Asamoah B, Sarpong PA, Adams C, D’Onofrio R. Examining and comparing the health and performance indices of university undergraduate students according to year of study and gender. J Exerc Rehabil 2017. [PMID: 29114505 PMCID: PMC5667617 DOI: 10.12965//jer.1735006.503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined and compared, based on year of study and gender, the health and performance indices of university undergraduate students. Eighty-nine students (mean±standard deviation age, 22.47±2.22 years) were randomly selected for assessment prior to second semester examination of 2015/2016 academic year. body mass index, resting metabolic rate, visceral fat, skeletal muscle mass, body fat, systolic & diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, upper & lower body endurance, handgrip strength, and lower back and hamstring flexibility were assessed. The students had sedentary heart rate, low skeletal muscle mass, average upper and lower body endurance, and weak handgrip strength. Significant difference existed in the visceral fat (P=0.008) between third and fourth year students. There were significant gender differences in resting metabolic rate (P=0.000), skeletal muscle mass (P=0.000), body fat (P=0.000), systolic blood pressure (P=0.001), heart rate (P=0.005) and handgrip strength (P=0.000). There are gender differences in association between health and performance indices. Dependable health education and pragmatic involvement of undergraduate university students in structured exercise programmes are recommended.
Collapse
|
27
|
|
28
|
Motta-Mena NV, Puts DA. Endocrinology of human female sexuality, mating, and reproductive behavior. Horm Behav 2017; 91:19-35. [PMID: 27866819 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Hormones orchestrate and coordinate human female sexual development, sexuality, and reproduction in relation to three types of phenotypic changes: life history transitions such as puberty and childbirth, responses to contextual factors such as caloric intake and stress, and cyclical patterns such as the ovulatory cycle. Here, we review the endocrinology underlying women's reproductive phenotypes, including sexual orientation and gender identity, mate preferences, competition for mates, sex drive, and maternal behavior. We highlight distinctive aspects of women's sexuality such as the possession of sexual ornaments, relatively cryptic fertile windows, extended sexual behavior across the ovulatory cycle, and a period of midlife reproductive senescence-and we focus on how hormonal mechanisms were shaped by selection to produce adaptive outcomes. We conclude with suggestions for future research to elucidate how hormonal mechanisms subserve women's reproductive phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie V Motta-Mena
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - David A Puts
- Department of Anthropology, Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Center for Human Evolution and Diversity, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802¸ United States.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Varella Valentova J, Bártová K, Štěrbová Z, Corrêa Varella MA. Influence of sexual orientation, population, homogamy, and imprinting-like effect on preferences and choices for female buttock size, breast size and shape, and WHR. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
30
|
|
31
|
Atari M, Chegeni R, Fathi L. Women who are Interested in Cosmetic Surgery Want it all: the Association between Considering Cosmetic Surgery and women’s Mate Preferences. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-016-0053-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
32
|
Abstract
To provide plastic surgeons with more detailed information as to factors affecting the perception of female attractiveness, the present study was aimed to investigate whether the interaction effect of breast and body size on ratings of female attractiveness is moderated by sociodemographic variables and whether ratings of shapeliness diverge from those of attractiveness.A community sample of 958 Italian participants rated the attractiveness and the shapeliness of 15 stimuli (5 breast sizes × 3 body sizes) in which frontal, 3/4, and profile views of the head and torso of a faceless woman were jointly shown.Bigger breast sizes obtained the highest attractiveness ratings, but the breast-by-body size interaction was also significant. Evidence was found of a moderator role of sex, marital status, and age. When the effects of breast and body size and their interaction had been ruled out, sex differences were at best very slight and limited to very specific combinations of breast and body sizes. Ratings of attractiveness and shapeliness were highly correlated and did not significantly differ.Results suggest that to address women's psychological needs, concerns, and expectations about their appearance, plastic surgeons should not simply focus on breast size but should carefully consider the 'big picture': the body in its entirety.
Collapse
|
33
|
Sela Y, Mogilski JK, Shackelford TK, Zeigler-Hill V, Fink B. Mate Value Discrepancy and Mate Retention Behaviors of Self and Partner. J Pers 2016; 85:730-740. [PMID: 27542990 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study investigated the relationship between perceived mate value discrepancy (i.e., the difference between an individual's mate value and their partner's mate value) and perceived frequency of mate retention performed by an individual relative to his or her partner. METHOD In two studies, participants in long-term, exclusive, sexual, heterosexual relationships reported their own, and their partner's, mate value and mate retention. Samples included 899 community members (Study 1) and 941 students and community members (Study 2). RESULTS In Study 1, we documented that individuals with higher self-perceived short-term mate value, and who perceive their partner to have lower (vs. higher) short-term mate value, perform less frequent Benefit-Provisioning mate retention, controlling for the partner's Benefit-Provisioning mate retention. In Study 2, we documented that individuals who perceive that they could less easily replace their partner, and who perceive their partner could more (vs. less) easily replace them, perform more frequent mate retention (Benefit-Provisioning and Cost-Inflicting), controlling for the partner's mate retention. CONCLUSION These results highlight the importance of assessing perceived discrepancies in mate value (notably, regarding the replaceability of self and partner with another long-term mate) and perceived mate retention behaviors of self, relative to partner, between men and women in long-term relationships.
Collapse
|
34
|
Lassek WD, Gaulin SJC. What Makes Jessica Rabbit Sexy? Contrasting Roles of Waist and Hip Size. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2016; 14:1474704916643459. [PMCID: PMC10481102 DOI: 10.1177/1474704916643459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/14/2016] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
While waist/hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI) have been the most studied putative determinants of female bodily attractiveness, BMI is not directly observable, and few studies have considered the independent roles of waist and hip size. The range of attractiveness in many studies is also quite limited, with none of the stimuli rated as highly attractive. To explore the relationships of these anthropometric parameters with attractiveness across a much broader spectrum of attractiveness, we employ three quite different samples: a large sample of college women, a larger sample of Playboy Playmates of the Month than that has been previously examined, and a large pool of imaginary women (e.g., cartoon, video game, graphic novel characters) chosen as the “most attractive” by university students. Within-sample and between-sample comparisons agree in indicating that waist size is the key determinant of female bodily attractiveness and accounts for the relationship of both BMI and WHR with attractiveness, with between-sample effect sizes of 2.4–3.2. In contrast, hip size is much more similar across attractiveness groups and is unrelated to attractiveness when BMI or waist size is controlled.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William D. Lassek
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Steven J. C. Gaulin
- Department of Anthropology, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Garza R, Heredia RR, Cieslicka AB. Male and Female Perception of Physical Attractiveness. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2016; 14:1474704916631614. [PMCID: PMC10426851 DOI: 10.1177/1474704916631614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and breast size are morphological traits that are associated with female attractiveness. Previous studies using line drawings of women have shown that men across cultures rate low WHRs (0.6 and 0.7) as most attractive. In this study, we used additional viewing measurements (i.e., first fixation duration and visual regressions) to measure visual attention and record how long participants first focused on the female body and whether they regressed back to an area of interest. Additionally, we manipulated skin tone to determine whether they preferred light- or dark-skinned women. In two eye tracking experiments, participants rated the attractiveness of female nude images varying in WHR (0.5–0.9), breast size, and skin tone. We measured first fixation duration, gaze duration, and total time. The overall results of both studies revealed that visual attention fell mostly on the face, the breasts, and the midriff of the female body, supporting the evolutionary view that reproductively relevant regions of the female body are important to female attractiveness. Because the stimuli varied in skin tone and the participants were mainly Hispanic of Mexican American descent, the findings from these studies also support a preference for low WHRs and reproductively relevant regions of the female body.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ray Garza
- Department of Psychology and Communication, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX, USA
| | - Roberto R. Heredia
- Department of Psychology and Communication, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX, USA
| | - Anna B. Cieslicka
- Department of Psychology and Communication, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Cohen E, Ndao A, Boëtsch G, Gueye L, Pasquet P, Holdsworth M, Courtiol A. The relevance of the side-view in body image scales for public health: an example from two African populations. BMC Public Health 2015; 15:1169. [PMID: 26603149 PMCID: PMC4659201 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2511-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Body size scales are a common method for diagnosing body image disturbances and assessing the cultural valorisation of stoutness, a phenomenon that plays a role in the development of overweight, especially among African populations. Traditionally, body size scales present a front view. In this study, we evaluated a complementary model of representing body shape: the side view of body outlines. In particular, we examined the association between the side-view and a set of bio-anthropometric indices in men and women. Methods To cover the inter-ethnic variability in the Niger-Congo area, we selected a balanced sex-ratio sample of 80 Cameroonians and 81 Senegalese. Individuals wearing close-fitting clothes were photographed from the front-and side-view, and measured following a bio-anthropometric protocol synthesizing body shape variation: Body Mass Index, percentage body fat, somatotype profile, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, mean blood pressure and glycaemia. The shape of each front and side body outline was extracted and characterised by Normalized Elliptic Fourier Descriptors (NEFD). Finally, we assessed associations between NEFD and bio-anthropometric indices. Results Variation in the shape of both front and side body outlines was associated with all bio-anthropometrics for at least one sex-population combination. Overall, the side view best captured body shape variation related to changes in almost all bio-anthropometrics in both sexes and populations, with the exceptions of female mesomorphy, male blood pressure and glycaemia (in both sexes). We found that the details of the relationship between bio-anthropometrics and body shape differed between the two male populations, a finding that was reflected in side-views for all criteria, but not front-views. Conclusions Variation in body shape assessed by several bio-anthropometrics related to health and nutritional status was larger for side than front body outlines. Integrating side views in body size scales would improve the accuracy of body size assessment and thus, the assessment of behaviours leading to overweight, as well as symptoms of body image disturbances, in Africa and potentially in other populations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2511-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Cohen
- UMI 3189 "Environnement, Santé, Sociétés", Faculty of Medicine-UCAD, BP 5005, Dakar-Fann, Sénégal, >Africa. .,UMR 7206 "Ecoanthropologie et Ethnobiologie", MNHN-CNRS, Musée de l'Homme, 17 place du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France. .,UMR 7206:"Ecoanthropologie et Ethnobiologie", National Museum of Natural History, 61 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Amadou Ndao
- UMR 7206 "Ecoanthropologie et Ethnobiologie", MNHN-CNRS, Musée de l'Homme, 17 place du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France.
| | - Gilles Boëtsch
- UMI 3189 "Environnement, Santé, Sociétés", Faculty of Medicine-UCAD, BP 5005, Dakar-Fann, Sénégal, >Africa.
| | - Lamine Gueye
- UMI 3189 "Environnement, Santé, Sociétés", Faculty of Medicine-UCAD, BP 5005, Dakar-Fann, Sénégal, >Africa.
| | - Patrick Pasquet
- UMR 7206 "Ecoanthropologie et Ethnobiologie", MNHN-CNRS, Musée de l'Homme, 17 place du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France.
| | - Michelle Holdsworth
- School of Health and Related Research, Public Health section, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK.
| | - Alexandre Courtiol
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse. 17, D-10315, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Cohen E, Bernard JY, Ponty A, Ndao A, Amougou N, Saïd-Mohamed R, Pasquet P. Development and Validation of the Body Size Scale for Assessing Body Weight Perception in African Populations. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138983. [PMID: 26536030 PMCID: PMC4633130 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The social valorisation of overweight in African populations could promote high-risk eating behaviours and therefore become a risk factor of obesity. However, existing scales to assess body image are usually not accurate enough to allow comparative studies of body weight perception in different African populations. This study aimed to develop and validate the Body Size Scale (BSS) to estimate African body weight perception. Methods Anthropometric measures of 80 Cameroonians and 81 Senegalese were used to evaluate three criteria of adiposity: body mass index (BMI), overall percentage of fat, and endomorphy (fat component of the somatotype). To develop the BSS, the participants were photographed in full face and profile positions. Models were selected for their representativeness of the wide variability in adiposity with a progressive increase along the scale. Then, for the validation protocol, participants self-administered the BSS to assess self-perceived current body size (CBS), desired body size (DBS) and provide a “body self-satisfaction index.” This protocol included construct validity, test-retest reliability and convergent validity and was carried out with three independent samples of respectively 201, 103 and 1115 Cameroonians. Results The BSS comprises two sex-specific scales of photos of 9 models each, and ordered by increasing adiposity. Most participants were able to correctly order the BSS by increasing adiposity, using three different words to define body size. Test-retest reliability was consistent in estimating CBS, DBS and the “body self-satisfaction index.” The CBS was highly correlated to the objective BMI, and two different indexes assessed with the BSS were consistent with declarations obtained in interviews. Conclusion The BSS is the first scale with photos of real African models taken in both full face and profile and representing a wide and representative variability in adiposity. The validation protocol proved its reliability for estimating body weight perception in Africans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Cohen
- CNRS, UMI 3189 «Environnement, Santé, Société», Faculté de Médecine Secteur Nord, Marseille, France
- CNRS, UMR 7206 «Eco-anthropologie et Ethnobiologie», Musée de l’Homme, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Jonathan Y. Bernard
- CNRS, UMR 7206 «Eco-anthropologie et Ethnobiologie», Musée de l’Homme, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Amandine Ponty
- CNRS, UMR 7206 «Eco-anthropologie et Ethnobiologie», Musée de l’Homme, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Amadou Ndao
- CNRS, UMR 7206 «Eco-anthropologie et Ethnobiologie», Musée de l’Homme, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Norbert Amougou
- CNRS, UMR 7206 «Eco-anthropologie et Ethnobiologie», Musée de l’Homme, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Rihlat Saïd-Mohamed
- CNRS, UMR 7206 «Eco-anthropologie et Ethnobiologie», Musée de l’Homme, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
- MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Patrick Pasquet
- CNRS, UMR 7206 «Eco-anthropologie et Ethnobiologie», Musée de l’Homme, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Apicella CL, Tobolsky VA, Marlowe FW, Miller KW. Hadza hunter-gatherer men do not have more masculine digit ratios (2D:4D). AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2015; 159:223-32. [PMID: 26354727 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Revised: 08/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The ratio between the length of the second and the length of the fourth digit (2D:4D) is sexually dimorphic such that males of many species possess a lower ratio than females, particularly in the right hand. Still, men and women often exhibit overlapping 2D:4D ranges and the ratio is highly variable between populations. In order to further explore populational variability, we chose to analyze 2D:4D in the Hadza, a population of hunter-gatherers living in Tanzania. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were collected separately by two researchers over the course of three years (1998, 2001, 2006) from 152 adult participants (male: n = 76, female: n = 76). Independent samples t-tests were used to explore sex differences, paired samples t-tests were used to explore directional effects within each sex, and linear regression and one-way ANOVA were used to test possible age effects. RESULTS In none of the years, or pooled (n = 152), did we find evidence that adult men have a lower 2D:4D than adult women. If anything, the data suggest that women in this population have a significantly lower right hand 2D:4D than men (P < 0.001, d = 0.57). In contrast, left hand 2D:4D did not exhibit a sex difference (P = 0.862, d = 0.03). DISCUSSION These findings challenge the current view that lower 2D:4D in men is a uniform characteristic of our species. Cross-populational variance in 2D:4D may be related to known patterns of hormonal variation resulting from both genetic and environmental mechanisms, though this relationship merits further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Coren L Apicella
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
| | - Victoria A Tobolsky
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104.,Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138
| | - Frank W Marlowe
- Division of Biological Anthropology, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge, CB2 3QG, UK
| | - Kathleen W Miller
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
|
40
|
Lewis DM, Russell EM, Al-Shawaf L, Buss DM. Lumbar curvature: a previously undiscovered standard of attractiveness. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2015.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
41
|
Wang G, Djafarian K, Egedigwe CA, El Hamdouchi A, Ojiambo R, Ramuth H, Wallner-Liebmann SJ, Lackner S, Diouf A, Sauciuvenaite J, Hambly C, Vaanholt LM, Faries MD, Speakman JR. The relationship of female physical attractiveness to body fatness. PeerJ 2015; 3:e1155. [PMID: 26336638 PMCID: PMC4556148 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspects of the female body may be attractive because they signal evolutionary fitness. Greater body fatness might reflect greater potential to survive famines, but individuals carrying larger fat stores may have poor health and lower fertility in non-famine conditions. A mathematical statistical model using epidemiological data linking fatness to fitness traits, predicted a peaked relationship between fatness and attractiveness (maximum at body mass index (BMI) = 22.8 to 24.8 depending on ethnicity and assumptions). Participants from three Caucasian populations (Austria, Lithuania and the UK), three Asian populations (China, Iran and Mauritius) and four African populations (Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and Senegal) rated attractiveness of a series of female images varying in fatness (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR). There was an inverse linear relationship between physical attractiveness and body fatness or BMI in all populations. Lower body fat was more attractive, down to at least BMI = 19. There was no peak in the relationship over the range we studied in any population. WHR was a significant independent but less important factor, which was more important (greater r (2)) in African populations. Predictions based on the fitness model were not supported. Raters appeared to use body fat percentage (BF%) and BMI as markers of age. The covariance of BF% and BMI with age indicates that the role of body fatness alone, as a marker of attractiveness, has been overestimated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guanlin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kurosh Djafarian
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Chima A. Egedigwe
- Department of Biochemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
| | - Asmaa El Hamdouchi
- CNESTEN, Unité Mixte de Recherche Nutrition et Alimentation, CNESTEN-Université Ibn Tofail, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Robert Ojiambo
- College of Health Science, School of Medicine, Medical Physiology Department, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Harris Ramuth
- Biochemistry Department, Central health Laboratory services, Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, Mauritius
| | | | - Sonja Lackner
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Pathophysiology and Immunology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Adama Diouf
- Laboratoire de Nutrition, Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Justina Sauciuvenaite
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Catherine Hambly
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Lobke M. Vaanholt
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Mark D. Faries
- Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX, USA
| | - John R. Speakman
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Visual exposure to obesity: Experimental effects on attraction toward overweight men and mate choice in females. Int J Obes (Lond) 2015; 39:1390-4. [PMID: 25999045 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2015.87] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cultural differences in ideal body weight are well established, but less research has examined attraction toward potential mates of heavier body weights. We examined whether exposure to obesity increases physical attraction toward overweight men. METHODS In Studies 1 and 2, we examined the effect that exposure to obese vs healthy weight men had on female attraction toward an overweight man. Study 3 examined whether females who are regularly exposed to males of heavier body weights reported a greater attraction toward overweight men. Study 4 tested whether females in an online dating study were more likely to choose to date an overweight man, after having been exposed to obesity. RESULTS Exposure to obesity altered visual perceptions of what normal and therefore healthy body weights were and this resulted in greater attraction toward an overweight man (Studies 1 and 2). Females regularly exposed to men of heavier body weight reported a greater attraction toward overweight men (Study 3). After exposure to obesity, females in an online dating study were more likely to choose to date an overweight man ahead of a healthy weight man (Study 4). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to male obesity increases female attraction toward overweight men and may affect mate choice.
Collapse
|
43
|
Cloud JM, Perilloux C. “Drawing” Conclusions About Perceptions of Ideal Male and Female Body Shapes. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40806-015-0020-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
44
|
Bovet J, Raymond M. Preferred women's waist-to-hip ratio variation over the last 2,500 years. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123284. [PMID: 25886537 PMCID: PMC4401783 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ratio between the body circumference at the waist and the hips (or WHR) is a secondary sexual trait that is unique to humans and is well known to influence men’s mate preferences. Because a woman's WHR also provides information about her age, health and fertility, men's preference concerning this physical feature may possibly be a cognitive adaptation selected in the human lineage. However, it is unclear whether the preferred WHR in western countries reflects a universal ideal, as geographic variation in non-western areas has been found, and discordances about its temporal consistency remain in the literature. We analyzed the WHR of women considered as ideally beautiful who were depicted in western artworks from 500 BCE to the present. These vestiges of the past feminine ideal were then compared to more recent symbols of beauty: Playboy models and winners of several Miss pageants from 1920 to 2014. We found that the ideal WHR has changed over time in western societies: it was constant during almost a millennium in antiquity (from 500 BCE to 400 CE) and has decreased from the 15th century to the present. Then, based on Playboy models and Miss pageants winners, this decrease appears to slow down or even reverse during the second half of the 20th century. The universality of an ideal WHR is thus challenged, and historical changes in western societies could have caused these variations in men’s preferences. The potential adaptive explanations for these results are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne Bovet
- Institute of Evolutionary Sciences, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, CC 065, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier, France
| | - Michel Raymond
- Institute of Evolutionary Sciences, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, CC 065, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier, France
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Dural S, Cetinkaya H, Gülbetekin E. Hemispheric specialization in the assessment of female physical attractiveness. Laterality 2015; 20:232-48. [DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2014.955503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
46
|
Kościński K. Assessment of waist-to-hip ratio attractiveness in women: an anthropometric analysis of digital silhouettes. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2014; 43:989-97. [PMID: 23975738 PMCID: PMC4050298 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-013-0166-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2012] [Revised: 01/12/2013] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The low proportion of waist to hip size in females is a unique and adaptive human feature. In contemporary human populations, the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is negatively associated with women's health, fecundity, and cognitive ability. It is, therefore, hypothesized that men will prefer women with low WHR. Although this prediction is supported by many studies, considerable disagreement persists about which WHR values are the most attractive and the importance of WHR for attractiveness of the female body. Unfortunately, the methods applied thus far are flawed in several ways. In the present study, we investigated male preferences for female WHR using a high precision assessment procedure and digitally manufactured, high quality, anthropometrically informed stimuli which were disentangled from body mass covariation. Forty men were requested to choose the most attractive silhouette consecutively from six series (2 levels of realism × 3 levels of body mass), each consisting of 26 female images that varied in WHR (from .60 to .85 by .01). Substantial inter-individual variation in the choices made was observed. Nevertheless, low and average WHR values were chosen more frequently than above-average values or values below the normal variation of the trait. This preference pattern mirrors the relationship between WHR and mate value, suggesting that the preferences are adaptive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Kościński
- Institute of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614, Poznan, Poland,
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
|
48
|
Muñoz-Reyes JA, Pita M, Arjona M, Sanchez-Pages S, Turiegano E. Who is the fairest of them all? The independent effect of attractive features and self-perceived attractiveness on cooperation among women. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2013.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
|
49
|
Bodily Attractiveness as a Window to Women’s Fertility and Reproductive Value. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0314-6_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
|
50
|
|