Evolutionary Perspectives on Male Attraction to Women

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on evolutionary perspectives on female attractiveness and male mate choice.

From an evolutionary perspective, why would men benefit from having many offspring?

Because men have an almost unlimited supply of sperm and a long reproductive window, so a strategy is to pass on genes by having many offspring.

What cues would men be predicted to look for in women to assess fertility when choosing a mate?

Youth and signs of fertility (estrogen-linked cues) that indicate a woman’s reproductive potential.

What is the approximate correlation (r) between men's ratings of women's facial femininity and their attractiveness?

About 0.65.

What is the approximate correlation (r) between women's ratings of male attractiveness and men's facial masculinity features?

About 0.35.

Which hormone is linked to many feminine facial and body cues (e.g., skin glow, rosy skin, full lips)?

Estrogen.

During peak fertility/ovulation, what subtle facial changes may occur due to estrogen?

Skin becomes plumper and rosier; lips tend to be fuller.

Across cultures, what is the general pattern in attractiveness standards for long-term mating?

Both men and women value physical attractiveness, but men place relatively more emphasis on it for long-term mating.

What waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) has been found most attractive in women in Singh’s studies?

0.70 (waist-to-hip ratio of 0.70).

Why is a WHR of 0.70 considered a cue to youth and fertility?

It indicates a healthier pregnancy potential and reproductive fitness.

What is the optimal lumbar curvature found to aid pregnancy and be preferred?

About 45 degrees.

Which eye feature is commonly linked to youth and attractiveness?

Large eyes (proportionally large relative to the face).

What is the Limbal Ring and why is it significant for attractiveness?

A dark ring around the iris; a larger limbic ring signals youth and fertility, and rings become lighter with age.

How are pupils related to perceived attractiveness?

Pupils dilate in response to interest; larger pupils are perceived as more attractive when viewing potential partners.

What do OkCupid data suggest about ratings of attractiveness by men and women?

Women rate a smaller proportion of men as attractive, while men rate many more women as attractive.

What is the 'closing time' effect in attractiveness research?

Ratings of attractiveness increase as the night progresses toward closing time, beyond the beer-goggle effect; may involve cognitive dissonance reduction.

In Paralu’s study, what did short-term vs long-term mating contexts reveal about what information men want to see in a mate?

In short-term contexts, men favor body cues; in long-term contexts, they favor facial cues (women show a similar face-preference trend for long-term).

What does cross-cultural evidence say about age preferences in long-term mates for men and women?

Women generally prefer men slightly older than themselves; men prefer younger women; notable exceptions exist in polygynous cultures (e.g., Zambia).

What broader cultural finding relates parasite prevalence to attractiveness preferences?

In high parasite/low parasite cultures, physical attractiveness is weighted more heavily in mate choice.

What is the observed pattern of body weight preference in food-scarce cultures?

Higher body weight is often preferred, as it signals resources and health for reproduction.

What evidence suggests that ovulatory cues may be detectable via scent in humans?

Men rated ovulatory-scented shirts as more attractive than non-ovulatory ones; oral contraceptives reduced this effect.

What are copulins and their purported effect on male attraction?

Copulins are pheromone-like compounds in vaginal secretions; exposure may raise testosterone and reduce a man’s ability to distinguish attractiveness.

How does a woman's voice change around ovulation, according to research?

Voices tend to be higher pitched and rated as more attractive around ovulation.

What mid-cycle changes have been observed in women’s bodies (e.g., breast symmetry) due to estrogen?

Breasts may become more symmetrical mid-cycle due to estrogen.

What does research suggest about sclera whiteness and attractiveness?

Whiter sclera signals better health; redness or yellowing can indicate illness and reduce perceived attractiveness.

What is the significance of the eyes’ limbal ring and sclera in signaling youth?

A prominent limbal ring and a bright sclera are cues of youth and fertility, contributing to attractiveness.