Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Female and male perceptions of female physical attractiveness in front-view and profile

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Martin Tovee, Dr Piers Cornelissen

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Two important cues to female physical attractiveness are body mass index (BMI) and shape. In front view, it seems that BMI may be more important than shape; however, is it true in profile where shape cues may be stronger? There is also the question of whether men and women have the same perception of female physical attractiveness. Some studies have suggested that they do not, but this runs contrary to mate selection theory. This predicts that women will have the same perception of female attractiveness as men do. This allows them to judge their own relative value, with respect to their peer group, and match this value with the value of a prospective mate. To clarify these issues we asked 40 male and 40 female undergraduates to rate a set of pictures of real women (50 in front-view and 50 in profile) for attractiveness. BMI was the primary predictor of attractiveness in both front and profile, and the putative visual cues to BMI showed a higher degree of view-invariance than shape cues such as the waist-hip ratio (WHR). Consistent with mate selection theory, there were no significant differences in the rating of attractiveness by male and female raters.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Cornelissen PL; Tovee MJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: British Journal of Psychology

Year: 2001

Volume: 92

Issue: 2

Pages: 391-402

ISSN (print): 0007-1269

ISSN (electronic): 2044-8295

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1348/000712601162257

DOI: 10.1348/000712601162257

PubMed id: 11417788


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share