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Buttocks or Breasts? Identifying Latent Subgroups in Male Preferences for Female Bodily Features
1Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Summary
Men
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Human Mating Behavior
Background:
- Breasts and buttocks are key secondary sexual characteristics in mate selection.
- Previous research has not fully explored individual differences in the importance men place on these traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify distinct subgroups of men based on their preferences for breasts and buttocks.
- To investigate the relative importance of breasts versus buttocks in male mate preferences.
Main Methods:
- Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to analyze data from 395 Norwegian men.
- Participants' importance ratings for breasts and buttocks in partner evaluation were assessed.
Main Results:
- Four distinct male preference profiles were identified: Highly Body-Oriented, Moderately Body-Oriented, Buttocks-Oriented, and Body-Unoriented.
- A consistent buttocks-oriented group emerged, while no isolated breasts-oriented group was found.
- Breasts ratings consistently co-occurred with high buttocks ratings.
Conclusions:
- Buttocks appear to play a more central and stable role than breasts in male mate preferences.
- Male mate preferences exhibit significant heterogeneity, with distinct subgroups showing varying emphasis on physical traits.
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