Although beauty is a subjective concept, evolutionarily, we are still slaves to the biology of our ancestors. Those who possessed the most adaptable characteristics survived longer and, therefore, reproduced more, these successful traits enduring in their offspring.
This scheme, which is the basis of the Darwinian theory of evolution, sometimes runs into pitfalls. A surprise that we did not expect is the conclusion reached by a study prepared by the Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Galsgow, which states that, precisely, the most masculine traits are not those that most attract women. At least for a long-term relationship.
Although we can think that the typically masculine features, with a prominent jaw, marked brow arch and prominent cheekbones, are the most attractive, the truth is that the softer and softer profiles are more attractive for women when choosing a partner with the one to commit.
The primary objective of the study was to analyze how sex hormones influence women’s preferences for men’s faces. So far, it is the largest study to address this issue, collecting 50 photos of young Caucasian men. During the experiment, the scientists produced two versions of each of these photographs: one adjusting the more typically female features and the other, accentuating typical male features.
The scientists asked nearly 600 heterosexual women to look at these photos and rate the attractiveness of men for two types of relationships: an affair and a long-term relationship. The women also provided saliva samples, which the researchers analyzed for sex hormones such as estradiol and testosterone.
In the long-term relationship attractiveness test, women were told the following: “You are looking for the type of man who would be attractive for a long-term relationship. For example, someone to move in with, a partner with the one to live with, and someone with whom, at a given moment, to marry or be engaged ”.
At the same time, in the attractiveness test for a short-term relationship, the women had the following instructions: “You are looking for the type of attractive man for a sexual adventure , which may not last long. That is, an adventure of limited time or one night only. “
Surprisingly, the traits evaluated as most attractive for long-term relationships were the most feminine; instead, the typically masculine ones were mostly chosen for a sporadic affair.
Also, hormone levels were not significantly related to women’s preference for manly faces for a long-term relationship.
The researchers also found no evidence that women using the contraceptive pill prefer more feminine faces, as had been suggested at the beginning of the study.
The research can be read in a publication prior to official publication, in the absence of peer review, the last step before publication in a scientific journal.
Reproduction, yes. Attachment, no.
Women did go for typically masculine faces, but only for a short-term sexual affair or relationship.
This could be because manly features, such as a large jaw and raised cheekbones, indicate good hereditary characteristics, such as a strong immune system. Desirable characteristics for sexual reproduction, although not so much to establish an attachment relationship with which to raise possible offspring.
What’s more, typically masculine traits have been linked to people who are less willing to invest time in personal relationships , as scientists claim.
Referencia: Benedict C. Jones, Amanda C. Hahn, Claire I. Fisher, Hongyi Wang, Michal Kandrik, Chengyang Han, Vanessa Fasolt, Danielle Morrison, Iris J. Holzleitner, Kieran J. O’Shea, Craig Roberts, Anthony C. Little, Lisa M. DeBruine. ‘No evidence that preferences for facial masculinity track changes in women’s hormonal status’. BioRxiv, The Print Server of Biology (2017). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/136549
