Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Physical attractiveness: the influence of selected torso parameters
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|February 1, 1981
Summary
Attractiveness ratings revealed that both men and women prefer less curvy female bodies. Broad shoulders and muscular chests were attractive in males, while slim waists appealed to both sexes, especially women.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Human physical attractiveness research
Background:
- Understanding human physical attractiveness is crucial in evolutionary and social psychology.
- Previous research has explored various traits influencing attractiveness, but findings can be contradictory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how specific physical characteristics of male and female physiques are perceived in terms of attractiveness.
- To determine if sex of the rater influences attractiveness judgments.
Main Methods:
- Participants rated front-view line drawings of male and female physiques.
- Ratings focused on attractiveness based on variations in body shape, shoulder width, chest muscularity, waist size, and breast size.
Main Results:
- Both male and female raters found female physiques with greater curvature less attractive.
- Male subjects' ratings of female physiques were not significantly affected by breast size, whereas female subjects showed a slight negative evaluation of larger breasts.
- Broad shoulders and increased chest muscularity were rated as attractive in male physiques.
- Waist slimness was perceived as attractive, particularly by female subjects.
Conclusions:
- Body shape preferences differ between sexes and are influenced by specific traits.
- Curvature in female physiques is generally perceived as less attractive, while masculine traits like broad shoulders and muscularity enhance male attractiveness.
Related Concept Videos
02:12Relationship Formation
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
01:06Natural Selection and Mating Preferences
The principle of natural selection posits that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This principle is closely intertwined with mating preferences, a key aspect of sexual selection, which evolutionary psychologists believe is driven by instincts to propagate one's genes. Such instincts significantly influence mating behaviors and preferences between genders.
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing, inherently...
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing, inherently...
01:22Factors Influencing Attraction I: Proximity
Proximity plays a fundamental role in shaping interpersonal attraction by increasing opportunities for interaction and fostering familiarity. Research consistently demonstrates that individuals are more likely to form social bonds with those who are physically closer to them, whether in residential settings, workplaces, or educational institutions. This effect is largely driven by the increased frequency of encounters, which facilitates the development of friendships and romantic...
01:21Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction
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...
01:23Factors Influencing Attraction III: Similarity
The similarity hypothesis suggests that individuals are more likely to form relationships with others who share similar attitudes, beliefs, values, and interests. This concept has been widely studied in social psychology, demonstrating that perceived similarity fosters interpersonal attraction. In an experiment supporting this hypothesis, participants were presented with fabricated information indicating that strangers held attitudes similar to their own. The results showed that participants...
01:23Factors Influencing Attraction VI: Personality Traits
Personality traits are fundamental in shaping social perception and influencing interpersonal relationships. Certain traits, such as agreeableness and extraversion, contribute positively to social interactions, whereas others, such as narcissism, have complex and often contradictory effects on how individuals are perceived over time.The Role of Agreeableness and ExtraversionAgreeableness and extraversion are associated with higher levels of interpersonal attractiveness and likability.