The Psychology of Attractiveness

Summary

The transcript discusses the correlation between socioeconomic status and perceived attractiveness in potential mates, highlighting a significant difference in how women perceive men versus how men perceive women. It critiques evolutionary biology studies for focusing on female attractiveness markers while neglecting what women find attractive in men. The conversation touches on the biological markers of beauty, such as neotenic features and fecundity indicators, and questions the convenience of these theories for men. The discussion also addresses the harsh standards placed on women's sexual self-presentation and the impact of reproduction on women's lives, suggesting that women's preferences for competent partners are influenced by the biological and practical burdens of reproduction.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The correlation between socioeconomic status and perceived attractiveness for women perceiving men is significantly higher (0.6) compared to the correlation between cognitive ability and grades.
• 🚹 The correlation between socioeconomic status and perceived mate attractiveness for women by men is either zero or slightly negative, indicating a stark difference in how attractiveness is perceived across genders.
• 👩 Women tend to preferentially mate 'up' the hierarchy, while men tend to mate 'down', a trend that is well-established cross-culturally.
• 🤔 The preference for certain physical traits, like neotenic features and symmetry, is linked to perceptions of attractiveness and is seen even in infants' gaze towards symmetrical faces.
• 🧸 The 'beauty myth' is discussed in relation to societal expectations and the pressure it places on women to conform to an ideal of sexual self-presentation.
• 🧬 There is a critique of evolutionary biology studies that focus on physical markers of attractiveness in women but often neglect to examine what women find attractive in men.
• 🤝 There is a noted overlap in physical markers of attractiveness that are mutually recognized by both men and women, though the manifestations may vary.
• 💭 The discussion suggests that women's preferences for wealth or professional accomplishment in men may be a proxy for assessing productive competence, rather than a direct marker of attractiveness.
• 🤰 The biological and practical reasons behind women's preferences in mates are explored, including the differential burden of reproduction and the impact on women's lives.
• 📚 The speaker expresses a critical view of evolutionary biology's application to explaining contemporary gender roles, suggesting it lacks intellectual merit in modern contexts.

Q & A

What is the correlation between socioeconomic status and perceived attractiveness for women perceiving men?

The correlation between socioeconomic status and perceived attractiveness for women perceiving men is either zero or slightly negative, indicating that women do not strongly associate a man's socioeconomic status with his attractiveness.

How does the correlation between socioeconomic status and perceived attractiveness for women perceiving men compare to other social science findings?

The correlation between socioeconomic status and perceived attractiveness for women perceiving men is significantly lower than the correlation between general cognitive ability and grades, which is one of the most robust and powerful findings in social sciences.

What is the role of neoteny in perceptions of attractiveness?

Neoteny, or the retention of juvenile features into adulthood, is one of the hallmarks of sexual attractiveness. It is a pervasive tendency that influences perceptions of beauty, including in animated characters and plush toys, which often have large eyes, small noses, and symmetrical faces.

Why do women preferentially mate across hierarchies and upwards, according to the script?

Women preferentially mate across hierarchies and upwards due to a biological and practical interest in finding a partner who is as competent or more competent than themselves, which can help redress the differential burden of reproduction.

What is the 'beauty myth' referred to in the script?

The 'beauty myth' refers to societal expectations and standards that place an 'Iron Maiden straitjacket' on women, dictating the ideal of their sexual self-presentation and attractiveness, often in ways that are harsh and unattainable.

What is the criticism of evolutionary biology studies as presented in the script?

The criticism is that evolutionary biology studies often focus on physical markers of attractiveness in women but neglect to examine what women find attractive in men. This leads to a flawed understanding of gendered attractiveness and reinforces certain gender roles.

Why might male scientists be hesitant to study certain physical markers of attractiveness in men?

Male scientists might be hesitant to study certain physical markers of attractiveness in men, such as penis size, because the conclusions could be unpopular or challenge societal norms and expectations.

How do women's evaluations of men's attractiveness differ from men's evaluations of women's attractiveness?

Women are reported to be much harsher in their evaluations of men's attractiveness compared to men's evaluations of women, with men rating 50 percent of women as below average in attractiveness, while women rate 80 percent of men as below average.

What is the biological rationale behind women seeking partners who are more competent or as competent as themselves?

The biological rationale is that women, being the sex that devotes more time and energy to reproduction, seek to redress the differential burden of reproduction by finding a partner who can contribute equally to the responsibilities associated with raising offspring.

Why does the speaker in the script consider the application of evolutionary biology to contemporary gender roles as lacking intellectual merit?

The speaker believes that evolutionary biology is often used to justify outdated gender roles and expectations that do not reflect the realities of the 21st century. The speaker argues that these studies do not account for societal changes and the evolution of gender dynamics.