subject: What Is Physically Attractive? [print this page] What Is Physically Attractive? What Is Physically Attractive?
We may know it when we see it, we may agree as a culture that this actor or that actress is the most attractive, but we have not been able to come up with some kind of magic formula that equals physical attraction in every case.
What We Know
Scientific studies on the subject of physical attraction between men and women suggest a few basic things about humanity's preferences. First, that men are more concerned with physically attractive female mates than women are with the physical attractiveness of men. Scientists suspect that this is linked to the need for men to identify a fertile mate. Biologically speaking, we suspect that women look for a different type of man at different times in her cycle. We know that human beings measure beauty by facial symmetry. So the most symmetrical people are also the most beautiful. Finally we can say that women tend to prefer men who have a trim waist, broad shoulders, decent muscularity, and are slightly taller. Even these basics cannot be relied on in all cases, however.
Improving Your Attractiveness
If you are concerned about making yourself physically attractive to women, it is important to focus on upkeep and grooming. Short of plastic surgery you cannot change your facial features and even if you could, you might not have any real way to predict success. Instead focus on choosing and maintaining a particular appearance. This can be anything from buttoned down businessman to tee shirts and leather as long as it makes you happy and comfortable while looking good. You should also take time for basic physical upkeep as women will generally want you to appear clean and healthy. It sounds basic, but your physical attractiveness is really just window dressing anyways. Most women are much more concerned with what is inside the package.
Mark is an online journalist who writes on behalf of several websites. In his romantic life, he studies Adam Lyons for advice on picking-up women.