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Laws of Attraction
Throughout history, having a fit and healthy body helped humans find a mate and reproduce successfully. Centuries ago, certain female traits (youth, a small waist, big breasts) indicated fertility. In turn, certain male traits (broad shoulders, dominance, good provider) indicated his ability to protect and care for mother and child.Evolutionary psychologist Devendra Singh, PhD, of the University of Texas, says men are actually not concerned about a woman's weight: They're attracted first and foremost to an hourglass shape, which in most cases means a waist that is 70 percent as wide as a woman's hips, regardless of dress size, a proportion that's a sign of high fertility.
But Swami's research suggests different cultures have different standards. Men in Western countries like England and the United States flock to thinner women (with a BMI of around 21). Guys in Mediterranean countries like Spain and Portugal, which are less affluent and still developing in many ways, consider larger women with curves extremely desirable. This may explain why Latin American men go gaga over divas with well-endowed bottoms, like Jennifer Lopez. "In most traditional societies, people who are able to put on body fat are rich and can afford to buy food," Swami says. Men whose ancestors hail from regions where food was scarce year-round or seasonally (like parts of Africa) find heavier women very fertile and therefore sexy, says Robert Friar, PhD, a professor of biology at Ferris State University.
When given a choice, women do prefer men with broad shoulders and a thin waist, according to a 2006 study by researcher Margaret Braun of Portland State University. But physique is not that crucial. "When women are looking for someone to settle down with, they start focusing on other important things," says evolutionary psychologist Jason Weeden, PhD, of Arizona State University. "Is he going to be a good provider? Is he a reliable guy? Does he want the same things she does?"
For both sexes, the real key to attraction may lie due north. The face is a stronger predictor of sexiness than the body. In a recent study, 24 people ages 18 to 25 rated digital photos of faces and clothed bodies to determine which one figured more strongly into overall attractiveness. Women thought a man's face accounted for nearly half of his overall attractiveness. For men, the face was an even stronger predictor of sexiness. The theory, according to study author Marianne Peters of the University of Western Australia: The face reveals intelligence, personality and confidence level -- all things that increase the odds of a great sexual relationship much more than a smaller pant size.
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