User:Psumeb/sandbox

Male Mate Preferences
It is a well known fact that men assign as far greater salience to the attractiveness of a potential mate when considering their mating preference that women.

Body Shape and Size
The first factor that has been shown to impact mating preference in males is that of Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), that is, the relationship between waist circumference and hip circumference as it has been suggested as a marker of age, reproductive status and health .This research also found that women with a WHR of 0.7 were rated the most attractive, youthful, fertile and healthy, when compared to other WHR's. Furthermore the current research also found that those women with a WHR of 0.7 and of normal weight were rated the most attractive, and whereas those with a WHR of 0.7 but whom were underweight were rated as more youthful but not as attractive. An extension of WHR research showed that there is an impact of breast and hip size upon attractiveness. This research found that women with large breasts, and small hips were rated more attractive than women with small breasts and small hips, as well as finding that women with large hips were rated less attractive irrespective of breast size.

Skin condition
Skin condition has been found to be an honest indicator of sex hormones which may indicate levels of fertility. The study directly examines the relationship between an individual having acne and the levels of hormones that could potentially indicate low fertility, therefore guiding attractiveness for mate preference. This skin condition, attractiveness link has been corroborated by research that  found that skin colour, skin homogeneity and facial adiposity (how fat is deposited around the face) all predict female attractiveness and therefore mate preference. Skin tone has also been found to be an honest indicator of youthfulness and fertility ; as well as research finding the first links between estradiol and female facial redness, in which as a woman reaches the peak of her ovulatory cycle her facial redness increases. This research would suggest that male mate preference would be guided by the individuals skin tone, looking for women with redder facial skin tones they indicate peak fertility and optimal opportunity for reproductive success.

Neoteny
Males show a preference for neotenous or youthful looking features in women, such as; big eyes, a small nose, and full lips. These features act as a signal of fertility as they are caused by high estrogen and low testosterone. The male mate preference for neoteny has been shown in research in which men were asked to morph images of female faces until an ideal face was achieved. The results found that men morphed the faces to proportions that resemble those of a 14 year old.

Chastity
Chastity is deemed highly desirable across cultures however the extent of its importance shows some variation. The importance of chastity to males, in an evolutionary sense has been linked to paternal certainty; as before contraception, the only way to ensure a woman had not been inseminated by another man was if she chaste.