Human Physical Attractiveness?

Question

NO offense please don't say beauty is in the eye of the beholder as an answer. Sorry. Anyhow why do we find certain people attractive more than others? This post isn't supposed to be taken offensively. What exactly constitutes being attractive? Is there a genetic reason that underlines why we find certain people attractive? I do acknowledge there are cultural differences. Does human attractiveness based more on biological or social reasons? Thanks for your answers.

Answer 1

when we look at the opposite s*x the main thing that we find s**y are the characteristics that make them resemble us kinda like michael angalo and the mona lisa type thing, please dont judge my grammer its awful.

Answer 2

You are in luck, there are many studies on this subjects.  I chose an evolutionary psychology study because that was the aspect of your question.

Has to do with health and ability to reproduce.

1) symmetry-debated but most likely a sign of health.

2) averageness-proven by studies

3) hormones-causes some facial features and skin condition.

Attractive not totally cultural bound. Individual differerence due to:

self esteem, age of parents, attractive judgement of self.

Also of value eye gaze, body decoration (cultural).

Just do a search with words psychology and attractiveness.

Answer 3

I think we take the best we can get.  It is no accident that good looking guys get the good looking girls and vice versa.

Of course there are exceptions but usually because a less good looking guy with a good looking lady has her because he has something else she finds attractive, like a good job, lots of money, a nice house or car.

Other traits women find attractive in men are agression, athletic prowess and physical fitness.  It isn't all about money or a handsome face.

The less attractive we are the more we try to convince ourselves that it is all about the heart.  It isn't.  It is about hormones and security.

Answer 4

mating & reproduction. =based of basic animal insticts

also social reasons that are brought by culture.

Answer 5

We have 7 major glands that produce hormones!

Because humans are innately lazy, one of those glands is usually dominant in us!

We are generally attracted to someone who is dominant in our weakest gland, & vice versa, they are attracted to us, who may be dominant in their weakest gland, which is our strongest!

That's why you see ugly people with beautiful ones, fat people with skinny people, and tall/short together!

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE GLANDS!

Answer 6

Attractiveness is completely subjective feeding from social conventions/environment and genetics.

There are sociaological theories that involve looking at different stages of childhood development. You'll find, for example, that aspects of the first person you had a crush on will continue to be attractive (think back to that first inappropriate teacher crush, some aspects of dress sense, hairstyle or whatever will always continue to hold sway).

Biologically the most attractive mate is someone who has strengths that cancel out your weaknesses. Like if you're very pale you'll most likely be attracted to tanned or dark skinned people. Or if you have a weak immune system you'll be attracted to people who are healthy (there is supposed to be information contained in pheremones about your own/your partners biology)

This however can be over-ridden by social context - if you grow up in an enviromnet/country where pale skin is prized or admired (some african/asian countries) then chances are you'll grow up being attracted to those characteristics.

There is an area in south america (can't remember if it's a tribe/small country or whatever) where large noses are thought of as attractive. This might not have a biologically practical application - but people grow up being psychologically programmed to find large noses desireable.

You can see social programming in all the things that people get plastic surgery on. There is no biological reason to be wafer thin with massive knockers, but fashion and social environment program people to find that attractive.

Answer 7

Both biological and social reasons, but the ultimate selection of mates is evolutionary in nature. Symmetry, for one trait, indicates an organism free of developmental insults. This indicates genetic superiority.

Many other indicators; too many to go into here. Read, " The Evolution of Human Sexuality ", by Donald Symons.

Answer 8

One of those great mysteries. I am female and have almost always been attracted to men of a certain appearance--tall,slim,dark haired,hazel eyes,high cheekbones and very refined features. perhaps unusually nowadays I like them with longer than normal hair too.This has been the case since I was 11.

  Now my own colouring and appearance is quite similar,so in some ways my attraction for this type seems to be mirroring--I was looking for a male version of myself.

That sounds highly egotistical but in fact as a teen and young adult I considered myself ugly; however i was still attracted to the one type.

Answer 9

Most people find well-developed (but not over-developed) secondary sexual characteristics attractive.  They show that your s*x hormones have acted on your body, and thus you are presumed to be fertile.  (However, I also find androgynous people attractive.  There's always exceptions.)

Answer 10

i this exact thing on G4 "wired for s*x"

well it siad that we are guys tend to look for more feminity cuase they look like they would make a good mother.

baisicly we look for someone that can protect us, healthy and good for offspring