What makes women hot? Body or Face?

Is it the face or the body which attracts you? Does this attraction change based on whether it is for a long-term relationship or short-term relationship?

Breast size, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), symmetry, volume-to-height ratio, foot size are some of the factors which have been studied for their impact on attractiveness. However very few studies analyzed these factors in relation, as most studies analyzed just one factor at a time. Of the very few studies which analyzed these factors in relationship, a researcher proposed that men could use women’s WHR as a ‘wide first-pass filter,’ screening out those women who may be unhealthy, have low reproductive capability, or be pregnant. However, a different group of researchers found no evidence for such a role. Researchers also found that the minimum acceptable levels for a number of factors increased with the length of relationship sought, but each factor was different in the way it increased and was different for each sex.

The recent research by Dr.Currie has tried to find whether it is the face or body which has more influence on attractiveness and also see its variation with respect to the purpose (long-term vs short-term relationship). All past studies addressing a similar focus had limitations of very few participants, artificially modified images, clothing influence etc. Dr.Currie and team recruited ‘models’ and got a close-up face shot & a full length shot with the models wearing only underwear. All possible care was taken to make all the photos the same. Some of those efforts were – maintaining the same neutral expression, face shot having a frame around the face to cover the hair, body photos showing from just under the chin to the knees while eliminating any long hair below the chin & all the underwear colored black, normalizing the face shots based on interpupillary distance, camera & models at the exact same positions etc. 260 participants (127 men & 133 women) then rated pictures of the opposite sex, anonymously over the internet. Each of them were randomly assigned and told to the rate the picture either for a long term relationship or a short term relationship. Each participant got 10 body images to rate in a sequence, followed by the same 10 face images in a different random order. Also first rating the body or face images was randomized. Next they got the both the body and face images (same 10 models but in a different random order). However, the body & face photos were placed side by side (not with the head on top of the body) to be consistent with the individual body or face photos rated earlier. Placing the head on top of the body, would make the face smaller and also disclose other traits not interested for this study. To validate this form of attractiveness rating, a different smaller group of participants rated the full length photos and those ratings showed strong correlation to the ratings given by the actual participants to the side by side configuration.

Statistical analysis of men rating women indicated that, even though both the body and face ratings were significant positive predictors of the ratings given to the combined images, the face ratings were stronger predictors of the combined ratings. It was also observed that the ratings for combined images was slightly higher for short term relationships as compared to long term relationships. One other significant observation – when the short term and long term relationship data were analyzed separately, the body ratings stood as more significant predictors to the combined ratings than face ratings, for short term relationships. In the case of females rating men, similar to men – the body and face ratings were both significant predictors with the face ratings being very strong predictors as compared to the body ratings. However, females ratings for men did not show any difference under the short term and long term decisions.

Even though this study seems like finding obvious answers, it is always a confusion whether men give more importance to the face or body. So statistically, this study proves that men and women approach long-term relationships (attractiveness) in a similar fashion ie, paying more attention to the face. However, for short-term relationships, men are liberal in rating women for attractiveness (this coincides with an earlier study which tells that – minimum acceptable levels for a number of factors increased with the length of relationship sought) and also give more importance to the body than the face. The researchers suggest further research to find why men give more importance to the body for short-term relationships, while we think it is obvious!