Beauty, Brains, Braun or Beliefs? - A HUMAN STUDY
(sources listed in bibliography at the end of post - these are not my opinions, rather an analysis)
Nadia Murtaza
People are often able to pin point what it is about a person that compels them to be attracted to them.
From their beautiful smile, their acute intelligence, their impressive fitness or their personal faith.
But which of these is the honest deciding factor to long term attraction and interest. You can only look at a pretty face and flex your biceps for so long, right?
Studies have conveyed that scientifically, physical attraction plays the largest part in long term interest. For example a beautiful pair of feminine eyes on a woman and the desirable pelvic bone of a well built man. And so forth "symmetry". People with a symmetrical appearance release subconcious infactuation in a potential mate that leads to ultimately, the desire to have sex. (a symmetrical partner is more likely to produce symmetrical offspring, who scientifically are "stronger" than those less symmetrical.) So what may appear as a simple physical magnetism is actually a pre thought, pre destined consensus for reproduction. Humans have not yet evolved past these primal links to picking a mate - survival of the fittest. And no, this is not just applicable to men (before we all sigh at the male brains shallow waters) - studies show exactly the same ratio of women choose the more "symmetrical" male in computer surveys.
As well as symmetry, there are other natural stimulants found facially and throughout the body that are a symbol of fertility which lead males to be attracted to females. For example - full lips, large eyes and shapely hips are a sure sign of youth and fertility in a woman - making them an appealing mate for a man. Countably, men with square jaws and long torsos possess features of "strength" that make the male a potential partner.
This is all very scientific. I could go into detail with pheromones and about how women release particular scents at certain times of month that act as bait for a potential mate (which is one of the main reasons perfume was invented) but that's a whole other story.
Okay, so it is a given that physical attraction is a primitive and basic baseline for any long term attraction. But there has to be more to it.
Intelligence is a defining characteristic of someone you intend on spending a lot of time with. This is of course assuming intelligence is something that you are attracted to (Sapiosexuals). Often (without sounding too obvious), people who consider themselves intelligent tend to sought after others of equal if not higher intelligence to keep them mentally and sexually stimulated. First of all, the old "smart people are ugly", please can we remove that from any segment of our minds and furthermore remove the word "ugly" from our vocabulary. Studies have shown that typically- the more similar one person is to another (in terms of intelligence) the more attracted they are to them both mentally and physically. This perceived or assumed similarity become a basis of a healthy inter physical stimuli and also the formula for long term attraction once the physical appearance fades. It has been documented that 80% of those in unequal mental intellect pairings are left (on both sides) unsatisfied, resentful and uncontrollably repelled ( no matter how symmetrical they are).
Perhaps those attracted to intelligence have evolved further than those attracted to beauty and braun? Or their internal instinct leans more toward a long term commitment than one associated with youth and fertility?
Then there are those drawn to an individuals personal beliefs. From their morals, their faith or their general outlook in life. Like those attracted to intelligence, often people with similar beliefs find themselves drawn to each other. However, there is a crack here. Science of the Mind research has exposed that although individuals with similar beliefs often succeed in the relationship stance; an initial attraction is actually more prominent in those with opposing beliefs. This is because it is in human nature to want to be challenged - and to further more, win. Although a large percentage of the time the "opposites" attract ends quickly, the initial battle is what creates a sexual and mental attraction between the partnership. In most proven cases this wears thin quickly. In the cases of similar belief and morals, we see couples fall more "in love" due to their shared passions, opinions and values - ultimately leading to the potential of a real internal and external connection. When two individuals share these traits, they usually find it easier to become vulnerable and open up to a mate who allows and accepts the desire to grow closer. The more exposed a person becomes, the more appealing they appear to a partner. In a females case, this evokes a sense of safety and in men, the desire to protect.
So who are you? Or are we all of these to a certain extent and pick and choose what is applicable to each potential partner? As spiritual as emotions are - the human being is a science and we do work through a multitude of formulas and evolutionary progressions. None of these are better or less shallow than the other, because all lead to the same primal mating ritual. It doesn't make any connection, romance or attraction any less personal . We are a science, continuously growing, moving forward and slowly but surely - understanding ourselves. I haven't even nearly covered everything that I could, but I will save that for another entry.
Note I have not looked into factors such as age, location and culture.
www.livescience.com
Bailey and Kelly 19840
Buss, 1985; Davis, 1985, Rubin 1973
Jones and Adams 1972
American Psychological association 1999
(sources listed in bibliography at the end of post - these are not my opinions, rather an analysis)
Nadia Murtaza
People are often able to pin point what it is about a person that compels them to be attracted to them.
From their beautiful smile, their acute intelligence, their impressive fitness or their personal faith.
But which of these is the honest deciding factor to long term attraction and interest. You can only look at a pretty face and flex your biceps for so long, right?
Studies have conveyed that scientifically, physical attraction plays the largest part in long term interest. For example a beautiful pair of feminine eyes on a woman and the desirable pelvic bone of a well built man. And so forth "symmetry". People with a symmetrical appearance release subconcious infactuation in a potential mate that leads to ultimately, the desire to have sex. (a symmetrical partner is more likely to produce symmetrical offspring, who scientifically are "stronger" than those less symmetrical.) So what may appear as a simple physical magnetism is actually a pre thought, pre destined consensus for reproduction. Humans have not yet evolved past these primal links to picking a mate - survival of the fittest. And no, this is not just applicable to men (before we all sigh at the male brains shallow waters) - studies show exactly the same ratio of women choose the more "symmetrical" male in computer surveys.
As well as symmetry, there are other natural stimulants found facially and throughout the body that are a symbol of fertility which lead males to be attracted to females. For example - full lips, large eyes and shapely hips are a sure sign of youth and fertility in a woman - making them an appealing mate for a man. Countably, men with square jaws and long torsos possess features of "strength" that make the male a potential partner.
This is all very scientific. I could go into detail with pheromones and about how women release particular scents at certain times of month that act as bait for a potential mate (which is one of the main reasons perfume was invented) but that's a whole other story.
Okay, so it is a given that physical attraction is a primitive and basic baseline for any long term attraction. But there has to be more to it.
Intelligence is a defining characteristic of someone you intend on spending a lot of time with. This is of course assuming intelligence is something that you are attracted to (Sapiosexuals). Often (without sounding too obvious), people who consider themselves intelligent tend to sought after others of equal if not higher intelligence to keep them mentally and sexually stimulated. First of all, the old "smart people are ugly", please can we remove that from any segment of our minds and furthermore remove the word "ugly" from our vocabulary. Studies have shown that typically- the more similar one person is to another (in terms of intelligence) the more attracted they are to them both mentally and physically. This perceived or assumed similarity become a basis of a healthy inter physical stimuli and also the formula for long term attraction once the physical appearance fades. It has been documented that 80% of those in unequal mental intellect pairings are left (on both sides) unsatisfied, resentful and uncontrollably repelled ( no matter how symmetrical they are).
Perhaps those attracted to intelligence have evolved further than those attracted to beauty and braun? Or their internal instinct leans more toward a long term commitment than one associated with youth and fertility?
Then there are those drawn to an individuals personal beliefs. From their morals, their faith or their general outlook in life. Like those attracted to intelligence, often people with similar beliefs find themselves drawn to each other. However, there is a crack here. Science of the Mind research has exposed that although individuals with similar beliefs often succeed in the relationship stance; an initial attraction is actually more prominent in those with opposing beliefs. This is because it is in human nature to want to be challenged - and to further more, win. Although a large percentage of the time the "opposites" attract ends quickly, the initial battle is what creates a sexual and mental attraction between the partnership. In most proven cases this wears thin quickly. In the cases of similar belief and morals, we see couples fall more "in love" due to their shared passions, opinions and values - ultimately leading to the potential of a real internal and external connection. When two individuals share these traits, they usually find it easier to become vulnerable and open up to a mate who allows and accepts the desire to grow closer. The more exposed a person becomes, the more appealing they appear to a partner. In a females case, this evokes a sense of safety and in men, the desire to protect.
So who are you? Or are we all of these to a certain extent and pick and choose what is applicable to each potential partner? As spiritual as emotions are - the human being is a science and we do work through a multitude of formulas and evolutionary progressions. None of these are better or less shallow than the other, because all lead to the same primal mating ritual. It doesn't make any connection, romance or attraction any less personal . We are a science, continuously growing, moving forward and slowly but surely - understanding ourselves. I haven't even nearly covered everything that I could, but I will save that for another entry.
Note I have not looked into factors such as age, location and culture.
www.livescience.com
Bailey and Kelly 19840
Buss, 1985; Davis, 1985, Rubin 1973
Jones and Adams 1972
American Psychological association 1999
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