The role of our genes
In the large-scale analysis of studies by Langlois and colleagues cited above, the way that
interpersonal attraction develops is related partly to how we select a mate. According to the
evolutionary concept of reproductive fitness, people guess whether a prospective mate has
good genes, using cues such as physical health, youthful appearance, and body and facial
symmetry. Good looks can also help, since attractive children receive extra care from their
parents. Humans can respond to all kinds of cues - e.g., women who sniffed T-shirts of
unknown origin preferred those that had been worn by symmetrical men! And further,
according to Gangstead and Simpson (2000) this was even more likely among those about
to ovulate!
As you know, males 'have a thing' about women's waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Typically,
men prefer the classic hourglass figure (a ratio of 0.70), probably because it signifies youthfulness,
good health and fertility. However, there are cultural and ecological effects: in foraging
societies, being thin may mean being ill and so men prefer their women to be heavier
(i.e. larger WHRs). In Western societies, where heaviness may indicate ill health, men
prefer slimmer women (i.e smaller WHRs) (Marlowe & Wetsman, 2001). These effects
point to the role of social and contextual factors that go beyond a genetic account.