<p>A study of women in 30 countries found they were more likely to choose a masculine-looking partner if their country scored low on a health index based on World Health Organisation mortality figures. By contrast, in countries where people have a longer lifespan, women favoured more feminine-looking men, even though they might not have the healthiest genes available.<br /><br />The research challenges the long-held belief that beauty is largely determined by culture.<br />“When women are choosing a mate, they’re weighing up two different things. On the one hand a really attractive, high genetic quality mate will give them very healthy offspring. On the other, there is getting “investment” from a mate-one who’ll be a good dad,” said Lisa DeBruine, who led the study at Aberdeen University.<br /><br />“Men who are really attractive tend to be able to pursue whatever mating strategy is best for them,” she added. “They are more likely to prefer short-term relationships. More feminine men tend to be better providers.” DeBruine’s team used a computer to create average male and female faces by merging photographs. The computer then used these to work out how the features of a masculine face differ from a feminine face. The most obvious differences are the larger jaws and deeper brows of more masculine men.<br /><br />“Environmental factors shift the balance when a woman is choosing a mate, and health is one of those. If a woman lives in an environment where there are lots of pathogens and disease, they are more likely to trade off a good investment in favour of better health for their children,” DeBruine said.<br /></p>
<p>A study of women in 30 countries found they were more likely to choose a masculine-looking partner if their country scored low on a health index based on World Health Organisation mortality figures. By contrast, in countries where people have a longer lifespan, women favoured more feminine-looking men, even though they might not have the healthiest genes available.<br /><br />The research challenges the long-held belief that beauty is largely determined by culture.<br />“When women are choosing a mate, they’re weighing up two different things. On the one hand a really attractive, high genetic quality mate will give them very healthy offspring. On the other, there is getting “investment” from a mate-one who’ll be a good dad,” said Lisa DeBruine, who led the study at Aberdeen University.<br /><br />“Men who are really attractive tend to be able to pursue whatever mating strategy is best for them,” she added. “They are more likely to prefer short-term relationships. More feminine men tend to be better providers.” DeBruine’s team used a computer to create average male and female faces by merging photographs. The computer then used these to work out how the features of a masculine face differ from a feminine face. The most obvious differences are the larger jaws and deeper brows of more masculine men.<br /><br />“Environmental factors shift the balance when a woman is choosing a mate, and health is one of those. If a woman lives in an environment where there are lots of pathogens and disease, they are more likely to trade off a good investment in favour of better health for their children,” DeBruine said.<br /></p>
