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Related Concept Videos

Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction01:21

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Physical attractiveness plays a crucial role in shaping interpersonal attraction, influencing first impressions, social interactions, and long-term relationship dynamics. Psychological research consistently demonstrates that attractiveness affects social evaluations and behavioral outcomes in various contexts.Influence on Social InteractionsResearch has shown that individuals perceived as physically attractive often experience preferential treatment in social and professional settings. One...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field
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A relationship between attractiveness and performance in professional cyclists.

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  • 1Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, , Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.

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Summary

Physically fitter males are often preferred by females. This study found that better performing cyclists were rated as more attractive, especially by women not on hormonal contraceptives, suggesting attractiveness signals endurance performance.

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Area of Science:

  • Human evolutionary biology
  • Sexual selection
  • Human physiology

Background:

  • Females often prefer high-quality mates, with physical performance being a key indicator.
  • The link between male attractiveness and physical fitness, particularly endurance, is not well-quantified in humans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between facial attractiveness and endurance performance in elite male athletes.
  • To determine if facial attractiveness is a reliable signal of physical performance in humans.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed facial attractiveness ratings of elite male cyclists from the 2012 Tour de France.
  • Correlated attractiveness scores with objective measures of endurance performance.

Main Results:

  • Higher endurance performance in cyclists was significantly associated with greater facial attractiveness.
  • This association was more pronounced in female raters not using hormonal contraceptives.

Conclusions:

  • Facial attractiveness can serve as a signal of underlying endurance capacity in elite male athletes.
  • Findings suggest that human endurance performance may have been shaped by sexual selection historically.