Predictors of enhancing human physical attractiveness

Data from 93 countries

Bibliographic Data

ID21651163
AuthorsMarta Kowal (0000-0001-9050-1471, University of Wrocław, corresponding author), P Sorokowski (0000-0001-9225-9965, University of Wrocław), Katarzyna Pisanski (0000-0003-0992-2477, Laboratoire Dynamique du Langage), Jaroslava V Valentova (0000-0002-2113-3385, Universidade de São Paulo), M A C Varella (0000-0002-7274-7360, Universidade de São Paulo), David A Frederick (0000-0002-4595-4380, Chapman University), Laith Al-Shawaf (0000-0002-8600-0591, University of Colorado Colorado Springs), Felipe E García (0000-0002-4161-5840, Consorci Institut D'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer), Isabella Giammusso (0000-0001-8784-8810, University of Palermo), Biljana Gjoneska (0000-0003-1200-6672, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts), Luca Kozma (0000-0002-3297-629X, University of Pecs), Tobias Otterbring (0000-0002-0283-8777, University of Agder), Marietta Papadatou-Pastou (0000-0002-2834-4003, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Gerit Pfuhl (0000-0002-3271-6447, UiT The Arctic University of Norway), Sabrina Stöckli (0000-0002-8322-2906, University of Bern), Anna Studzinska (0000-0002-7694-4214, Institut Catholique d'Arts et Métiers), Ezgi Toplu‐demirtaş (0000-0003-2005-5490, MEF University), Ezgi Toplu-Demirtas, Anna Κ Touloumakos (0000-0002-4610-8418, Panteion University), Bence E Bakos (0000-0002-9276-4758), Carlota Batres (0000-0002-3833-7667, Franklin & Marshall College), Solenne Bonneterre (0000-0003-4839-6692, Université Paris Nanterre), Johanna Czamanski-Cohen (0000-0003-3980-6848, Carmel (Israel)), Jovi Clemente Dacanay (0000-0002-9222-3759, Open University of Israel), Eliane Deschrijver (0000-0003-0387-3539, Ghent University), M Fisher (0000-0002-7804-8544), Maryanne L Fisher, Caterina Grano (0000-0002-1899-0773, Sapienza University of Rome), Dmitry Grigoryev (0000-0003-4511-7942, National Research University Higher School of Economics), Pavol Kačmár (0000-0003-0076-1945, University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik), Mikhail V Kozlov (0000-0002-9500-4244, University of Turku), Efisio Manunta (0000-0002-2163-4980, Laboratoire Cognition, Langues, Langage, Ergonomie), Karlijn Massar (0000-0003-4388-3846, Japan Women's University), Joseph P Mcfall (0000-0002-1222-2271, Universidad del Norte), Moises Mebarak (0000-0002-0830-1700, University of British Columbia), Maria Rosa Miccoli (0000-0002-4455-2654), Taciano L Milfont (0000-0001-6838-6307, University of Agder), Pavol Prokop (0000-0003-2016-7468, Universidad del Norte), Toivo Aavik (0000-0003-1620-0245, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Patricia Arriaga (0000-0001-5766-0489, Iscte – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa), Roberto Baiocco (0000-0002-6372-3762, Universidad del Norte), Jiří Čeněk (0000-0002-2543-5532, University of Konstanz), Hakan Cetinkaya (0000-0001-5585-8678, Open University of Israel), Izzet Duyar (0000-0002-4578-0528), Farida Guemaz (0009-0006-4278-6840), Toru Ishii (0000-0002-8444-4455), Tatsunori Ishii, Julia Kamburidis (Japan Women's University), Julia A Kamburidis, Hareesol Khun-Inkeeree (0000-0002-6138-3004, Prince of Songkla University), Linda H Lidborg (0000-0001-9667-9326, Open University of Israel), Hagar Manor, Ravit Nussinson (0000-0002-7331-548X, Open University of Israel), Mohd Sofian Omar Fauzee (0000-0002-6841-9647, Japan Women's University), Mohd Sofian B Omar-Fauzee, Farid Pazhoohi (0000-0002-9184-5361, University of British Columbia), K Ponnet (0000-0002-6911-7632, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Anabela Caetano Santos (0000-0001-7963-8397, University of Lisbon), Oksana Senyk (0000-0003-1657-4490), Ognen Spasovski (0000-0002-6039-6946), Огнен Спасовски, Mona Vintila (0000-0002-0406-4103, West University of Timişoara), Austin Horng-En Wang (0000-0002-0256-2723), Austin H Wang (University of Nevada, Las Vegas), Gyesook Yoo (0000-0002-2175-5512, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Oulmann Zerhouni (0000-0002-4026-1921, Université Paris Nanterre), Rizwana Amin (0000-0002-3262-6329, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Sibele D Aquino (0000-0003-1391-0911), Sibele Aquino, Merve Boğa (0000-0001-6784-4900, Maastricht University), Mahmoud Boussena (0000-0003-0150-7631, University of Agder), Ali R Can (0000-0002-8432-5368, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Seda Can (0000-0001-5328-6602, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Rita Castro (0000-0002-8841-400X, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Antonio Chirumbolo (0000-0002-4274-2489, Sapienza University of Rome), Oluwole Coker (0000-0002-7757-4542, Open University of Israel), Ogeday Çoker, Clément Cornec (0000-0002-4110-328X, Université Jean Monnet), Seda Dural (0000-0002-7606-2617, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Stephanie J Eder (0000-0002-2061-5382, Chapman University), Nasim Ghahraman Moharrampour (University of Agder), Simone Grassini (0000-0002-4189-7585, University of Agder), Evgeniya Hristova (0000-0001-8127-8562, University of Agder), Gözde Ikizer (0000-0003-3567-5991), Nicolas O Kervyn (0000-0001-9056-6283, University of Agder), Nicolas Kervyn, Mehmet Koyuncu (0000-0002-7070-4607), Yoshihiko Kunisato (0000-0002-5830-7182, University of Agder), Samuel Lin (0000-0001-6824-4691, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Samuel Lins, Tetyana Mandzyk (0000-0002-6710-8257, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Silvia Mari (0000-0001-6543-5249, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Alan D A Mattiassi (0000-0002-9996-0700, West University of Timişoara), Aybegüm Memisoglu‐Sanli (0000-0002-4397-4513, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Aybegum Memisoglu-Sanli, M Morelli (0000-0003-3463-3685, Sapienza University of Rome), Felipe Carvalho Novaes (0000-0002-4534-5059, University of Turku), Miriam Parise (0000-0003-2150-6636, Japan Women's University), Irena Pavela Banai (0000-0003-2237-978X, Japan Women's University), Mariia Perun (0000-0003-3334-2579, University of Agder), Nejc Plohl (0000-0001-9936-4039, University of Agder), Fatima Zahra Sahli (0000-0002-1864-1653, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Dušana Šakan (0000-0003-1087-2550, University of Konstanz), Sanja Smojver-Azic (0000-0002-4389-6463, Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées), Çağlar Solak (0000-0002-0421-8627, University of Konstanz), Sinem Söylemez (0000-0002-3785-9340, University of Konstanz), Asako Toyama (0000-0002-5212-7316, University of Agder), Anna Włodarczyk (0000-0003-2106-5324, Panteion University), Yuki Yamada (0000-0003-1431-568X, National Research University Higher School of Economics), Beatriz Abad-Villaverde (0000-0002-3652-7141, National Research University Higher School of Economics), Reza Afhami (0000-0002-7678-6164, Sapienza University of Rome), Grace Akello (0000-0002-1228-013X, University of Turku), Nael H Alami (0000-0002-1802-8250), Leyla Alma, Marios Argyrides (0000-0002-9936-7229), Derya Atamturk (0000-0002-4819-7768), Nana Burduli, Sayra Cardona, João Carneiro (0000-0002-8199-2472), Andrea Castañeda, Izabela Chałatkiewicz, W J Chopik (0000-0003-1748-8738), Dimitri Chubinidze (0000-0003-3253-8991), Daniel Conroy-Beam, Daniel Conroy‐Beam (0000-0003-3701-0870), Jorge Contreras-Garduño, Diana Ribeiro Da Silva (0000-0002-3919-627X), Yahya B Don, Donato (0000-0002-8406-4604), Dmitrii Dubrov (0000-0001-8146-4197), Michaela Duračková, Sanjana Dutt (0000-0002-3845-6922), Samuel O Ebimgbo (0000-0003-1762-1754), Ignacio Estevan (0000-0003-4743-1310), Edgardo Etchezahar (0000-0002-3289-194X), Peter Fedor (0000-0003-4091-8935), Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Feten Fekih‐Romdhane (0000-0002-2569-8017), Tomasz Frackowiak (0000-0002-0244-2879), Katarzyna Galasinska (0000-0002-3680-2713), Lukasz Gargula (0000-0002-4962-9323), Benjamin Gelbart (0000-0001-7171-5693), Talia Gomez Yepes (0000-0001-6555-1186), Brahim Hamdaoui, Ivana Hromatko (0000-0002-3837-1929), Salome N Itibi, Luna Jaforte (0000-0002-5400-8775), Steve M J Janssen (0000-0002-3100-128X), Marija Jovic (0000-0002-9971-1579), Kévin Sevag Kertechian (0000-0003-3167-916X), Farah Khan (0000-0002-0119-1991), Aleksander Kobylarek (0000-0002-4562-9035), Maida Koso-Drljevic, Anna Krasnodębska (0000-0001-5451-1031), Valerija Križanić (0000-0002-4670-2142), Miguel Landa-Blanco (0000-0002-7865-7593), Alvaro Mailhos (0000-0001-7333-7817), Tiago A Marot (0000-0002-4491-4993), Tamara Martinac Dorčić (0000-0002-3844-8500), Martha Martínez-Banfi (0000-0003-2730-7590), Mat Rahimi Yusof (0000-0003-2459-984X), Marlon Mayorga-Lascano (0000-0002-2515-4159), Vita Mikuličiūtė (0000-0001-8818-9140), Katarina Misetic (0009-0007-7417-7473), Bojan Musil (0000-0002-5198-018X), Arooj Najmussaqib (0000-0001-9423-0795), Kavitha Nalla Muthu, J C Natividade (0000-0002-3264-9352), Izuchukwu L G Ndukaihe (0000-0003-3714-6946), Ellen K Nyhus (0000-0002-0764-3274), Elisabeth Oberzaucher (0000-0003-0083-3160), Salma S Omar, Franciszek Ostaszewski, Ma Criselda T Pacquing (0000-0002-9854-3876), Ariela F Pagani (0000-0002-7149-9350), Ju Hee Park (0000-0003-3031-0272), Ekaterine Pirtskhalava (0000-0003-0345-0560), Ulf-Dietrich Reips (0000-0002-1566-4745), Marc Eric Santos Reyes (0000-0002-5280-1315), Jan Philipp Röer (0000-0001-7774-3433), Ayşegül Şahin (0000-0002-4278-0266), Adil Samekin (0000-0001-9684-1944), Rūta Sargautytė (0000-0002-4555-4889), Tatiana Semenovskikh (0000-0001-6015-7497), Henrik Siepelmeyer (0000-0002-9933-075X), Sangeeta Singh (0000-0003-1233-748X), Alicja Sołtys, Agnieszka Sorokowska (0000-0003-3999-8851), Rodrigo Soto-López, Liliya Sultanova (0000-0002-3516-7340), William Tamayo-Agudelo (0000-0002-5858-4964), Chee-Seng Tan (0000-0002-6513-2309), Gulmira T Topanova, Merve Topcu Bulut, Bastien Trémolière (0000-0001-7626-2902), Singha Tulyakul (0000-0002-2231-7186), Belgüzar N Türkan, Arkadiusz Urbanek (0000-0001-7592-787X), Tatiana Volkodav (0000-0003-3129-3638), Kathryn V Walter (0000-0002-4574-2900), Mohd Faiz Mohd Yaakob (0000-0001-8555-267X), Marcos Zumárraga-Espinosa (0000-0001-9930-9005)
Year2022
Volume43
Issue6
Pages455-474
Publication date2022-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEvolution and Human Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1090-5138 • E-ISSN: 1879-0607
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.08.003
OpenAlexW4294740753
LanguageEN
Citations received24
References cited156

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 complementary perspectives

Aesthetics · Attractiveness · Beauty · Biology · Biosocial theory · Clothing · Developmental psychology · Evolutionary psychology · Geography · Personality · Physical attractiveness · Population · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Consumer Behavior in Brand Consumption and Identification · Demography · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology · Social Psychology · Ecology

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