Predictors of enhancing human physical attractiveness: Data from 93 countries
(2022) In Evolution and Human Behavior 43(6).- Abstract
- 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... (More)
- 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 >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. © 2022 The Authors (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/13129f4a-4fd7-4ab6-a769-e9a311dbd206
- author
- Kowal, M. ; Bulut, M.T. LU and Zumárraga-Espinosa, M.
- author collaboration
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-11
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Appearance, Evolutionary theory, Mating market perspective, Pathogen stress, Self-modification, Social media usage
- in
- Evolution and Human Behavior
- volume
- 43
- issue
- 6
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85137282665
- ISSN
- 1090-5138
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.08.003
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 13129f4a-4fd7-4ab6-a769-e9a311dbd206
- date added to LUP
- 2022-12-19 14:28:33
- date last changed
- 2023-01-11 22:42:49
@article{13129f4a-4fd7-4ab6-a769-e9a311dbd206,
abstract = {{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 >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. © 2022 The Authors}},
author = {{Kowal, M. and Bulut, M.T. and Zumárraga-Espinosa, M.}},
issn = {{1090-5138}},
keywords = {{Appearance; Evolutionary theory; Mating market perspective; Pathogen stress; Self-modification; Social media usage}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{6}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Evolution and Human Behavior}},
title = {{Predictors of enhancing human physical attractiveness: Data from 93 countries}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.08.003}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.08.003}},
volume = {{43}},
year = {{2022}},
}