Signals of Genetic Quality and Maternal Investment Capacity: The Dynamic Effects of Fluctuating Asymmetry and Waist-to-Hip Ratio on Men’s Ratings of Women’s Attractiveness

• Published in: Social psychological & personality science Vol. 1; no. 1; pp. 34 - 42
• Main Authors: Perilloux, Helen K., Webster, Gregory D., Gaulin, Steven J. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.01.2010; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Asymmetry; Attractiveness; Biological organs; Body Mass Index; Evolutionary psychology; Hips; Investments; Men; Photography; Physical attractiveness; Signals; Social psychology; Symmetry; Undergraduate students; Waist; Women; attractiveness; waist-to-hip ratio; evolutionary psychology; fluctuating asymmetry; body mass index
• ISSN: 1948-5506; 1948-5514
• DOI: 10.1177/1948550609349514

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) are frequently studied physical attractiveness variables in social and evolutionary psychology. FA represents deviations in bilateral symmetry—differences between left and right body parts. WHR is the ratio of the smallest part of the waist to the largest part of the hips. Although FA and WHR are important mate preference criteria, research has not examined their joint influence on attraction. Thus, 140 heterosexual male undergraduates ranked—and 118 rated—the attractiveness of 10 photographs of rear-facing nude women. Women’s FA and WHR were negatively related to attractiveness separately, after controlling for each other and after controlling for body mass index (BMI). An FA × WHR interaction emerged, such that men’s preferences for lower WHRs increased as FA decreased, even after controlling for BMI. FA and WHR affected attractiveness in ways consistent with the information they carry and its likely effects on offspring quality.