Predictors of enhancing human physical attractiveness: Data from 93 countries

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F62156489%3A43310%2F22%3A43921937" target="_blank" >RIV/62156489:43310/22:43921937 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.08.003" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.08.003</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.08.003" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.08.003</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Predictors of enhancing human physical attractiveness: Data from 93 countries

Original language description

People across the world and throughout history have gone to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Evolutionary psychologists and ethologists have largely attempted to explain this phenomenon via mating preferences and strategies. Here, we test one of the most popular evolutionary hypotheses for beauty-enhancing behaviors, drawn from mating market and parasite stress perspectives, in a large cross-cultural sample. We also test hypotheses drawn from other influential and non-mutually exclusive theoretical frameworks, from biosocial role theory to a cultural media perspective. Survey data from 93,158 human participants across 93 countries provide evidence that behaviors such as applying makeup or using other cosmetics, hair grooming, clothing style, caring for body hygiene, and exercising or following a specific diet for the specific purpose of improving ones physical attractiveness, are universal. Indeed, 99% of participants reported spending &gt;10 min a day performing beauty-enhancing behaviors. The results largely support evolutionary hypotheses: more time was spent enhancing beauty by women (almost 4 h a day, on average) than by men (3.6 h a day), by the youngest participants (and contrary to predictions, also the oldest), by those with a relatively more severe history of infectious diseases, and by participants currently dating compared to those in established relationships. The strongest predictor of attractiveness-enhancing behaviors was social media usage. Other predictors, in order of effect size, included adhering to traditional gender roles, residing in countries with less gender equality, considering oneself as highly attractive or, conversely, highly unattractive, TV watching time, higher socioeconomic status, right-wing political beliefs, a lower level of education, and personal individualistic attitudes. This study provides novel insight into universal beauty-enhancing behaviors by unifying evolutionary theory with several other complimentary perspectives.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

50101 - Psychology (including human - machine relations)

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2022

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Evolution and Human Behavior

ISSN

1090-5138

e-ISSN

1879-0607

Volume of the periodical

43

Issue of the periodical within the volume

6

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

20

Pages from-to

455-474

UT code for WoS article

000898669000001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85137282665