Tovée M J, Maisey D S, Emery J L, Cornelissen P L
Department of Psychology, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
Proc Biol Sci. 1999 Jan 22;266(1415):211-8. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1999.0624.
Evolutionary psychology suggests that a woman's sexual attractiveness is based on cues of health and reproductive potential. In recent years, research has focused on the ratio of the width of the waist to the width of the hips (the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). A low WHR (i.e. a curvaceous body) is believed to correspond to the optimal fat distribution for high fertility, and so this shape should be highly attractive. In this paper we present evidence that weight scaled for height (the body mass index (BMI)) is the primary determinant of sexual attractiveness rather than WHR. BMI is also strongly linked to health and reproductive potential. Furthermore, we show how covariation of apparent BMI and WHR in previous studies led to the overestimation of the importance of WHR in the perception of female attractiveness. Finally, we show how visual cues, such as the perimeter-area ratio (PAR), can provide an accurate and reliable index of an individual's BMI and could be used by an observer to differentiate between potential partners.
进化心理学表明，女性的性吸引力基于健康和生殖潜力的线索。近年来，研究聚焦于腰围与臀围的比例（腰臀比，WHR）。低腰臀比（即身材曲线优美）被认为对应着高生育能力的最佳脂肪分布，因此这种体型应该极具吸引力。在本文中，我们提供证据表明，根据身高调整的体重（身体质量指数，BMI）是性吸引力的主要决定因素，而非腰臀比。BMI也与健康和生殖潜力紧密相关。此外，我们展示了先前研究中表观BMI和WHR的协变如何导致对腰臀比在女性吸引力认知中重要性的高估。最后，我们展示了诸如周长面积比（PAR）等视觉线索如何能够提供个体BMI的准确可靠指标，并且观察者可以利用它来区分潜在伴侣。
