Parental investment hypotheses regarding mate selection suggest that human males should seek partners featured by youth and high fertility. However, females should be more sensitive to resources that can be invested on themselves and their offspring. Previous studies indicate that economic status is indeed important in male attractiveness. However, no previous study has quantified and compared the impact of equivalent resources on male and female attractiveness. Annual salary is a direct way to evaluate economic status. Here, we combined images of male and female body shape with information on annual salary to elucidate the influence of economic status on the attractiveness ratings by opposite sex raters in [various] populations. We found that ratings of attractiveness were around 1000 times more sensitive to salary for females rating males, compared to males rating females. These results indicate that higher economic status can offset lower physical attractiveness in men much more easily than in women. Neither raters' BMI nor age influenced this effect for females rating male attractiveness. This difference explains many features of human mating behavior and may pose a barrier for male engagement in low-consumption lifestyles.

  • We found that ratings of attractiveness were around 1000 times more sensitive to salary for females rating males, compared to males rating females.
  • These results indicate that higher economic status can offset lower physical attractiveness in men much more easily than in women.
  • This difference explains many features of human mating behavior and may pose a barrier for male engagement in low-consumption lifestyles.

References:

Wang G, et al. 2018. Different impacts of resources on opposite sex ratings of physical attractiveness by males and females. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322128430_Different_impacts_of_resources_on_opposite_sex_ratings_of_physical_attractiveness_by_males_and_females


It is a common assertion that a man's economic standing continues to matter less in the modern dating landscape (provided that women are having better access to education and successful careers). However, provided that this study was published in 2018, is it possible that little has changed from previous generations?