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Perceptions of female body weight and shape among indigenous and urban Europeans

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Martin Tovee

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Abstract

Two important cues to female physical attractiveness are body mass index (BMI) and body shape as measured by the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). This study examined the relative contribution of both cues in three culturally distinct populations. A total of 119 Finnish, Sámi and British male observers rated a set of un-edited photographs of women with known BMI and WHR. The results showed that there were significant differences in preferences for physical attractiveness, with the indigenous Sámi preferring figures with larger BMIs and more tolerant of heavy-weight figures than either Finnish participants in Helsinki or Britons in London, who were indistinguishable in their preferences for slim figures. The findings are discussed in terms of evolutionary psychological explanations of mate selection, and sociocultural theories which emphasizes the learning of preferences for body sizes in social and cultural contexts. © 2007 The Scandinavian Psychological Associations.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Swami V, Tovee MJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology

Year: 2007

Volume: 48

Issue: 1

Pages: 43-50

Print publication date: 01/02/2007

ISSN (print): 0036-5564

ISSN (electronic): 1467-9450

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9450.2006.00526.x

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2006.00526.x

PubMed id: 17257368

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