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Female waist-to-hip and male waist-to-shoulder ratios as determinants of romantic partner desirability

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Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
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Margaret F. Braun
Margaret F. Braun
Margaret F. Braun
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Angela Bryan
Angela Bryan
Angela Bryan
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Abstract

This study examines the effects of body shape (women's waist-to-hip ratio and men's waist-to-shoulder ratio) on desirability of a potential romantic partner. In judging desirability, we expected male participants to place more emphasis on female body shape, whereas females would focus more on personality characteristics. Further, we expected that relationship type would moderate the extent to which physical characteristics were valued over personality. Specifically, physical characteristics were expected to be most valued in short-term sexual encounters when compared with long-term relationships. Two hundred and thirty-nine participants (134 females, 105 males; 86% Caucasian) rated the desirability of an opposite-sex target for a date, a one-time sexual encounter, and a serious relationship. All key hypotheses were supported by the data.
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Female waist-to-hip and male
waist-to-shoulder ratios as
determinants of romantic partner
desirability
Margaret F. Braun
Portland State University
Angela Bryan
University of Colorado at Boulder
ABSTRACT
This study examines the effects of body shape (women’s
waist-to-hip ratio and men’s waist-to-shoulder ratio) on desir-
ability of a potential romantic partner. In judging desirability,
we expected male participants to place more emphasis on
female body shape, whereas females would focus more on
personality characteristics. Further, we expected that relation-
ship type would moderate the extent to which physical
characteristics were valued over personality. Specifically,
physical characteristics were expected to be most valued in
short-term sexual encounters when compared with long-term
relationships. Two hundred and thirty-nine participants (134
females, 105 males; 86% Caucasian) rated the desirability of
an opposite-sex target for a date, a one-time sexual
encounter, and a serious relationship. All key hypotheses
were supported by the data.
KEY WORDS: agreeableness • desirability • physical attractive-
ness • personality • romantic partner • waist-to-hip ratio •
waist-to-shoulder ratio
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships Copyright © 2006 SAGE Publications
(www.sagepublications.com), Vol. 23(5): 805–819. DOI: 10.1177/0265407506068264
The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Gregory D. Webster, who provided
insightful comments and editorial assistance with this article. All correspondence concerning
this article should be addressed to Margaret F. Braun, Department of Psychology, Portland
State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751, USA [e-mail: pdx01350@pdx.edu].
Stanley O. Gaines, Jr. was the Action Editor on this article.
... In men, the upper-body strength is a sexually dimorphic trait and an indicator of physical attractiveness (Braun & Bryan, 2006;Dixson et al., 2014;Garza et al., 2017;Garza & Byrd-Craven, 2019;Furnham & Nordling, 1998;Horvath, 1981;Hönekopp et al., 2007;Pazhoohi et al., 2019Pazhoohi et al., , 2023aSell et al., 2017;Tovée et al., 1999). Men's upper body is quantified through the ratio of the circumference of the shoulders relative to that of the hips, known as the shoulder to hip ratio (SHR). ...
... However, our finding that Iranian women, from a harsher ecological environment (Historical Pathogen Prevalence [HPP]: − 0.17; Contemporary Pathogen Prevalence [CPP]: 33, Fincher et al., 2008), preferred lower SHRs in men compared to women from Norway (HPP: − 0.80, CPP: 24), Poland (HPP: − 0.80, CPP: 27), and Russia (HPP: − 0.42, CPP: 28) contradicts with this previous finding, yet suggests mating context (i.e., short-term vs. long-term relationships) modulates preferences for men's physical features that are potential cues to direct and indirect benefits, such as genetic quality and resource holding power. Women demonstrate a stronger preference for men with higher shoulder to hip ratios when considering a short-term mating encounter (Braun & Bryan, 2006;Provost et al., 2006Provost et al., , 2008, suggesting that they prioritize physical features associated with indirect benefits (i.e., high-quality genes). However, recent research has shown that women may be more consistent in their mating preference regardless of mating context, while men have a stronger proclivity to prioritize preferences in short-and long-term mating (Mirfazeli et al., 2021). ...
Cross-Cultural Preferences for Women’s Waist to Hip Ratio and Men’s Shoulder to Hip Ratio: Data From Iran, Norway, Poland, and Russia
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2024
Objectives Body size and shape are sexually dimorphic in humans, with men being characterized with larger upper bodies, while women typically having broader pelvises. Such sexually dimorphic traits, quantified as shoulder to hip ratio (SHR) in men and waist to hip ratio (WHR) in women, serve as cues of an individual’s genetic fitness, reproductive potential, health, and resource holding power, and, thereby, functioning as attractiveness cues to the opposite sex. Methods In the current study, we investigated men’s and women’s preference for the opposite sex body shape (WHR in women and SHR in men) in samples from Iran, Norway, Poland, and Russia. Women rated their preference for men’s SHR (1.20 to 1.50) and men rated their preference for women’s WHR (0.55 − 0.85). Results and Conclusion Our results showed that Iranian and Norwegian men preferred less feminine WHRs in women compared to Polish and Russian men. Moreover, Iranian women preferred less masculine SHRs in men than women from other countries. Altogether, the current research showed that there are variations in men’s preferences for women’s WHR and women’s preferences for men’s SHR among these countries.
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... In general, women visually attend more to muscular male body forms and consider muscular men with broader shoulder more attractive than overweight and lean men (Dixson et al., 2014;Garza et al., 2017). Moreover, women desire men portraying a more masculine SHR and upper body as their potential partners (Braun & Bryan, 2006;Sell et al., 2017). It appears that women are drawn to these characteristics because they are linked to good genes, masculinity, and immune system strength, which may offer both indirect advantages, such as healthier offspring, and direct benefits, such as acquiring resources Garza & Byrd-Craven, 2021;Gray & Frederick, 2012;Pazhoohi et al., 2023b;Puts et al., 2012). ...
... Behavioral results regarding the preference for larger SHR in male models are in accordance to previous behavioral studies showing preference for more masculine and bigger upper body for men (Braun & Bryan, 2006;Dixson et al., 2014;Fan et al., 2005;Kordsmeyer et al., 2018;Pazhoohi et al., , 2023bSell et al., 2017;Tovée et al., 1999). Interestingly, there was no difference in the preference pattern observed between female and male avatars, meaning participants also considered higher SHRs more attractive for female avatars. ...
Neural Correlates and Perceived Attractiveness of Male and Female Shoulder-to-Hip Ratio in Men and Women: An EEG Study
Article
Full-text available
While there are studies regarding the neural correlates of human facial attractiveness, there are few investigations considering neural responses for body form attractiveness. The most prominent physical feature defining men’s attractiveness is their physical fitness and upper body strength. Shoulder-to-hip ratio (SHR), a sexually dimorphic trait in humans, is an indicator of men’s attractiveness for both men and women. The current study is the first to report on the neurophysiological responses to male and female body forms varying in SHR in healthy heterosexual men and women observers. Electroencephalographic (EEG) signals were acquired while participants completed an oddball task as well as a subsequent attractiveness judgement task. Behavioral results showed larger SHRs were considered more attractive than smaller SHRs, regardless of stimuli and participants’ sex. The electrophysiological results for both the oddball task and the explicit judgement of attractiveness showed that brain activity related to male SHR body stimuli differed depending on the specific ratios, both at early and late processing stages. For female avatars, SHR did not modulate neural activity. Collectively the data implicate posterior brain regions in the perception of body forms that differ in attractiveness vis-a-vis variation of SHR, and frontal brain regions when such perceptions are rated explicitly.
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... According to Pine (2001) children as young as five years of age perceive thinner figures as possessing more feminine traits than fatter figures, yet in male figures all body shapes were perceived as masculine. Braun and Bryan (2006) examined the effects of body shape by looking at women's waist-to-hip ratio and men's waist-to-shoulder ratio on desirability of a potential romantic partner. It was found that men value physical characteristics in women, and the female body shape is of particular importance when they determine the physical attractiveness of women. ...
Students’ Perceptions of Exercise Science Faculty Credibility Based on Faculty Members’ Body Type
Thesis
Full-text available
  • Dec 2014
Fitness and body image are two topics that are at the forefront of society. “A persons’ physique is often used by others to judge their character and abilities” (Wykes & Gunter, 2005, p.193). Reactions to a persons’ body type are immediate and instinctual. The perception of someone’s body type projects information about that person, but also influences the character traits others expect of them. As a professor instructing others it is important to understand the influence of their appearance. This study surveyed undergraduate students at two Midwestern universities enrolled in an exercise science class in the fall of 2014. They were shown images of William H. Sheldon’s three somatotypes with definitions, and 15 characteristics regarding professor credibility on a 7-point Likert scale. Students surveyed were between the ages of 18 and 22 and consisted of 180 participants, 48% female (n=86) and 52% (n=94) male. Participants also reported their self-perceived body type. Of the 180 students surveyed 27% (n=48) determined they were ectomorphs. There was a 66% (n=120) response for mesomorphs, and 7% (n=12) responded as having an endomorph body type. There was a statistically significant difference between how students perceive faculty credibility based on the faculty members’ somatotype, F(2, 178) = 49.14, p=.000. The participants rated the ectomorph (thin) image as most credible with an overall mean total of 4.61, the mesomorph (muscular) image was rated with an overall mean total of 4.46, and the endomorph (overweight/obese) image was perceived as least credible with an overall mean total of 3.87. The Faculty Credibility Scale is comprised of three composites: competence, character, and caring. It appeared that overall the ectomorph and mesomorph somatotypes were favored over the endomorph somatotype in two of the three composite means (Competence and Caring), and all three somatotypes were aligned for the third composite mean (Character). When looking at students’ perceptions of faculty credibility based on the faculty’s body type and students’ own self-reported body type, there was no significant difference. Also, when looking at students’ perceptions of faculty credibility based on the faculty’s body type and students’ gender, there was no significant difference noted.
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... figures, yet, in male figures all body shapes were perceived as masculine. Braun and Bryan (2006) examined the effects of body shape by looking at women's waist-to-hip ratio and men's waist-to-shoulder ratio on desirability of a potential romantic partner. It was found that men value physical characteristics in women and the female body shape is of particular importance when they determine the physical attractiveness of women. ...
Health and wellness students' perceptions of exercise science professor's intelligence, based on body type
Thesis
Full-text available
  • Jan 2012
Fitness and body image are two topics that are at the forefront of society. It can be argued that physique-related perceptions influence the way people are viewed and may have an influence on what is perceived as their intelligence level. It has been suggested that social stereotypes may account for a major share of the correlation between physique and personality. Reactions to body build are likely to be important features of the individual’s social environment both in terms of the way an individual is treated by others and the personality and character traits others expect of them. Appearance is the first piece of information a person shares with others and it can powerfully influence perceivers’ behavior. A study was performed on 107 college students at a Midwestern public university using a p-value of .05. Each student was shown photographs (male and female) of Sheldon’s three somatotypes and asked one question about each photo. This study aimed to gain an understanding of professors’ body type on their perceived intelligence level as judged by the student. A Wilks’ Lambda distribution concluded at least two of the means for professor body type groups were significantly different with a value of 0.728 and the p-value of less than 0.001. A pairwise comparison analysis was conducted which indicated that all of the group means were different from each other. Upon further examination of the data a statistical significance was found using a multinomial logistic regression. The researchers’ hypothesis was confirmed in that there was a difference in the way Health and Wellness students perceived exercise science professor’s intelligence based on the professor’s body type.
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... Muscularity may reflect underlying physiological quality (e.g., parasite and disease resistance) given the energetic demands of growing larger and fitter bodies (Sell et al., 2017). Men with greater upper body mass, as measured by SHR, are rated higher on attractiveness (Braun & Bryan, 2006;Dixson et al., 2014;Furnham & Nordling, 1998;Garza & Byrd-Craven, 2019;Garza et al., 2017;Horvath, 1981;Pazhoohi et al., 2019aPazhoohi et al., . 2023aSidari et al., 2021;Sell et al., 2017;Tovée et al., 1999), and ratings have shown cross-cultural consistency (Dixson et al., 2007a(Dixson et al., , b , 2010Mautz et al., 2013). ...
Examining Ecological Harshness, Sociosexuality, and Mate Value in Women’s Preferences for Men’s Height and Shoulder-to-Hip Ratio
Article
Full-text available
  • May 2024
Physical features in men, such as height and shoulder-to-hip ratio (SHR), have been shown to contribute to women’s mate preferences. The independent and interactive effects of height and SHR have been shown to be associated with attractiveness, masculinity, dominance, and fighting ability. It is suggested that these sexually dimorphic features are a reflection of men’s genetic quality, in addition to the ability to provide direct benefits (e.g., protection, resource provisioning). The current study investigated how ecological harshness may modulate women’s mate preferences to men displaying variations in height and SHR ratio. In a sample of predominately Hispanic women (N = 247), manipulating ecological harshness did not affect their ratings of men. Women considered taller men with larger SHRs as more attractive, masculine, dominant, and higher in fighting ability. Interestingly, these ratings were moderated by individual differences in women’s mate value but not sociosexuality. Women with higher mate value rated all men who were taller than the anchor woman (172 cm) in the presentation sequence as more attractive, masculine, dominant, and higher in fighting ability. The findings replicated previous research on the interactive effects of men’s height and SHR and showed that women calibrate their mating preferences as a function of their overall mate quality (i.e., mate value).
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... We observed a significant indirect effect between body appearance and marital satisfaction, suggesting that this influence is mediated by other factors not explicitly measured in our study. Individuals with higher marital satisfaction also exhibited a more positive perception of their body appearance, which reinforces previous findings (91)(92)(93). ...
Balance and deep connections: the impact of physical activity on body and sexual self-esteem, psychological distress, and marital satisfaction among adults
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2024
To date, no research has examined the relationship between sexual self-esteem, body self-esteem, psychological distress, marital satisfaction, and engagement in physical activities. Through a study involving 443 adults the aim of this research was to analyze the connections between engaging in physical activities, body self-esteem, sexual self-esteem, marital satisfaction, and psychological distress among adults. The results obtained through Partial Least Squares (PLS) modeling with SmartPLS reveal significant interconnections among these variables. The correlation between body self-esteem and psychological distress, the positive relationship between sexual satisfaction and positive sexual self-esteem, as well as the beneficial influence of engaging in physical activities on marital satisfaction, are key highlights of this study. The robustness of the measures, confirmed by high coefficients, strengthens the credibility of the results. Despite these advancements, the cross-sectional nature of the study emphasizes the need for longitudinal research to gain a deeper understanding of psychological and relational dynamics over time. In conclusion, this study offers significant contributions to promoting balanced marital relationships, highlighting the importance of considering body and sexual self-esteem, psychological distress, and physical activity within the context of human relationships.
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... Anthropometric measures show that the average male SHR is about 1.20 (Marković et al., 2016;Dijkstra & Buunk, 2001;Horvath, 1979), while, for comparison, the female SHR is lower, about 1.00 (Marković et al., 2016;Dijkstra & Buunk, 2001). In addition to SHR, there are also other ratios which highly predict male attractiveness, such as the waist-to-shoulder ratio (WSR) (Braun & Bryan, 2006), as well as the waistto-chest ratio (WCR) (Fan et al., 2005;Maisey et al., 1999). Although different, all three measures overlap because they depict a male torso in the form of an "inverted triangle" (broad shoulder/chest and narrow hip/waist). ...
Tendencies Toward Supernormality/Subnormality in Generating Attractive and Unattractive Female and Male Avatars: Gender Differences
Article
Full-text available
In the present study, we investigated the differences in the experience of attractiveness and unattractiveness of human bodies. A total of 101 participants (55 females) were asked to create the most attractive and the most unattractive female and male figures using a computer animation. They performed this task by adjusting the size of six body parts: shoulders, breasts/chest, waist, hips, buttocks, and legs. Analyses indicated that attractive body parts were distributed normally with the peak shifted to moderately supernormal sizes, while unattractive body parts had mostly U-shaped or skewed distributions with extremes in super-supernormal and/or subnormal sizes. Generally, both male and female attractive bodies had prominent “sporty” look: supernormally wide shoulders and long legs. Gender differences showed that men prefer more supernomal masculine and feminine sizes, while women show an ambivalence toward both groups of traits. Principal components analysis revealed gender differences on the multitrait level: males focus on prominent masculine and feminine traits, while women focus on traits that make both male and female bodies more elongated and slender. Gender differences were in line with specific male and female positions in the partner selection process, while a certain tendency toward masculinization of the female body required the inclusion of social factors, such as the influence of the culture of a sporty and fit look.
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The Nonverbal Communication of Sexual Interest
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  • Apr 2024
This chapter primarily covers the nonverbal expression of sexual interest in cisgender, heterosexual individuals, from their libidinal urges to their post-sex behaviors, with a major focus on flirtation. The focus on flirtation necessitates consideration of the theoretical frameworks and methodological issues that might elucidate, cloud, or distort a true understanding of this domain of scientific inquiry. In part 1, a new framework for defining and discussing gender differences in the human courtship sequence (e.g., expressions of sexual interest or flirting) is offered. In part 2, historical and contemporary research pertaining to how sexual interest is nonverbally expressed and gender differences in the same are discussed in the following areas: sex drive; flirtation; sexual arousal; consent to sex; sex activity; the orgasm gap; and post-copulation. Findings pertaining to non-heterosexual individuals are integrated within each of the covered areas, unless they were extensive enough to warrant separate treatment, which was the case with flirtation and sexual consent.
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Patterns of Sexual Imprinting in Gay and Lesbian Populations
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This paper investigates the role that parental imprinting plays in human mate choice. Sexual imprinting is a process of early childhood learning in which characteristics present in (usually) genetically related individuals are stored in memory for future use in mate selection. Previous research has shown that sex differences exist in imprinting processes, most notably in that children seem most likely to imprint on their other-sex parent. This difference in imprinting for men and women was investigated to determine whether it is a result of sex or sexual orientation, and whether non-heterosexuals would instead imprint on their same-sex parent. Imprinting effects were assessed for a total of 458 participants on a number of characteristics by recruiting a primarily (79.1%) non-heterosexual sample through web-based and snowball sampling methods. Positive imprinting effects were found for the characteristics of eye color, hair color, hair length, race/ethnicity, and smoking, as well as some evidence for a negative imprinting effects in the novel characteristic of shoulder-to-hip ratio. Analysis of the differences in imprinting between sexual orientations showed that imprinting is generally more likely to occur for parents that are the same sex as participants’ ideal partner(s). The findings of the present study suggest that sexual imprinting is sensitive to sexual orientation and that gender differences found in prior research may be due to this effect rather than of the subjects themselves.
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The Evolution of Sexual Attraction: Evaluative Mechanisms in Women
Chapter
Full-text available
  • Aug 1992
For most sexually reproducing species all conspecifics of the other sex are not equally valuable as mates: that is, they differ in “mate value.” In many species selection has produced mechanisms to detect potential mates of high mate value. In other words, just as the taste of fruit varies with food value. in a natural setting, sexual attractiveness varies with mate value. What do women find attractive in men? Many writers who have addressed this issue have concluded that female preferences are so diverse and idiosyncratic as to defy systematic explanation. I will argue, however, that general principles guiding female mate preferences can be discerned at the appropriate level of abstraction and that the evolution-based concept of “mate value” (Symons 1987a) provides a useful heuristic in this endeavor.
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Adaptive Significance of Female Physical Attractiveness: Role of Waist-to-Hip Ratio
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  • Aug 1993
Evidence is presented showing that body fat distribution as measured by waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is correlated with youthfulness, reproductive endocrinologic status, and long-term health risk in women. Three studies show that men judge women with low WHR as attractive. Study 1 documents that minor changes in WHRs of Miss America winners and Playboy playmates have occurred over the past 30-60 years. Study 2 shows that college-age men find female figures with low WHR more attractive, healthier, and of greater reproductive value than figures with a higher WHR. In Study 3, 25- to 85-year-old men were found to prefer female figures with lower WHR and assign them higher ratings of attractiveness and reproductive potential. It is suggested that WHR represents an important bodily feature associated with physical attractiveness as well as with health and reproductive potential. A hypothesis is proposed to explain how WHR influences female attractiveness and its role in mate selection.
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Preadolescents' Perceptions of Females' Body Size and Shape: Evolutionary and Social Learning Perspectives
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Full-text available
  • Apr 2002
One hundred and sixty-five Mexican American and Euro-American preadolescents' and their parents' perceptions of healthy and attractive female body sizes and shapes were examined in this study. Participants' perceptions of healthy and attractive female figures were assessed using a pictorial measure that systematically manipulated 3 levels of body size and 4 levels of body shape (i.e., waist-to-hip ratio; WHR). All participants tended to perceive females' with small WHRs as most healthy and attractive looking, while preadolescents expressed a preference for thinner female figures than did adults. Results further suggest that Euro-American and Mexican American participants report similar preferences for females' body sizes and shapes. However, little agreement was found between preadolescents' and their parents' preferences. Principles of evolutionary theory and social learning theory are used to interpret these findings, and implications for preadolescents' perceptions of their own developing bodies, body image, and related eating behaviors are discussed.
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Agreeableness
Chapter
  • Dec 1997
Agreeableness is probably best conceptualized as a general latent variable that summarizes more specific tendencies and behaviors. Agreeableness should certainly qualify as an individual difference having significance for people's daily transactions. It can be predominantly an affective evaluation and may be a more diffuse reaction. Across a range of studies, agreeableness emerges in the natural language descriptions of the self and peers. Furthermore, there is evidence that self-rating and peer evaluations converge in assessing agreeableness. Later, the prosocial personality is discussed in this chapter. Prosocial behavior can be conceptualized as a form of agreeableness. Recent research suggests that there may be important dispositional components to prosocial behavior, and these may be seen even in young children. Precise identification of these dispositions has been inhibited by problems of differentiating among social motives, and by weak measures of altruism as an outcome and as a disposition. Basic bio-behavioral research suggests that individual differences in agreeableness in adults may have their origins in affective self-regulatory processes in childhood. In particular, individual differences in the pattern of inhibition of negative effect may be related to the development of agreeableness and these may be related to health, especially cardiovascular disease.
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Ethnic and Gender Consensus for the Effect of Waist-to-Hip Ratio on Judgment of Women's Attractiveness
Article
  • Mar 1995
The western consensus is that obese women are considered attractive by Afro-Americans and by many societies from nonwestern developing countries. This belief rests mainly on results of nonstandardized surveys dealing only with body weight and size, ignoring body fat distribution. The anatomical distribution of female body fat as measured by the ratio of waist to hip circumference (WHR) is related to reproductive age, fertility, and risk for various major diseases and thus might play a role in judgment of attractiveness. Previous research (Singh 1993a, 1993b) has shown that in the United States Caucasian men and women judge female figures with feminine WHRs as attractive and healthy. To investigate whether young Indonesian and Afro-American men and women rate such figures similarly, female figures representing three body sizes (underweight, normal weight, and overweight) and four WHRs (two feminine and two masculine) were used. Results show that neither Indonesian nor Afro-American subjects judge overweight figures as attractive and healthy regardless of the size of WHR. They judged normal weight figures with feminine WHRs as most attractive, healthy, and youthful. The consensus on women's attractiveness among Indonesian, Afro-American, and U.S. Caucasian male and female subjects suggests that various cultural groups have similar criteria for judging the ideal woman's shape.
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Sex differences in morphological predictors of sexual behavior: Shoulder to hip and waist to hip ratios
Article
  • May 2003
  • EVOL HUM BEHAV
Differences exist between males and females in fat distribution, skeletal morphology, muscle mass, and body shape. We investigated sex differences in shoulder to hip ratios (SHR) and waist to hip ratios (WHR), and their relationships to different features of sexual behavior. Males with high SHR and females with low WHR reported sexual intercourse at an earlier age, more sexual partners, more extra-pair copulations (EPC), and having engaged in more instances of intercourse with people who were involved in another relationship (i.e., having themselves been EPC partners). The predictive value of these morphological features was highly sex-specific.
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