It is a proven fact that men are simple visual creatures. They see, they like, and they get attracted. But it would be wrong to say that looks are all they look for in women. There are a lot more than just a pretty face that meets their eyes. And this is something women have been wondering about for centuries. So, it would be more credible to rope in science to explain this mystery. But it is also important to remember that the following is based on specific studies that were done with a specific set of people.
The below-mentioned traits are not a judgment on anyone’s attractiveness. This is just a curated list based on a few studies among many others. So, here is a list of seven scientifically proven things that men find attractive in women.
1. The Tilt Of The Head
Researchers have found out that the tilt of a woman’s head in the downward direction can make her seem significantly more attractive to the opposite sex. This research was conducted by showing head shots of women taken at various angles and during various phases of their menstrual cycle to men. They concluded that men found those headshots more attractive in which women’s faces were tilted downward and also ones in which they were in their fertile phase of the menstrual cycle.
The researchers emphasize that these factors only influence the perception of beauty and are not really strict requirements for attractiveness.1
2. The Risk Takers
According to a study conducted at the University of Alaska, men (and also women) find certain kinds of risk-taking behavior attractive in the opposite gender. Researchers analyzed the results based on two different categories of risk; old hunter-gatherer kind of risks like hunting and ability to handle fire and modern-day risks like drugs, driving without seat belt etc.
Researchers were amused to find that the ability to take on old world risks is what men (and women) find attractive in their mates. Your impulse to drive without a seatbelt might not impress a man but your ability to climb mountains just might.2
3. Moderately High-Pitched Voice
Yes, you read it right. A moderately high-pitched voice has been regarded as more attractive than a deeper voice by men. According to the researchers, this could be because the high-pitched sound is generally associated with smaller size. Also, breathiness of voice is deemed to be more attractive. Interestingly, women found men with lower-pitched voices to be more attractive as it is generally associated with a large body. So, embrace your shrieky voices, ladies!
Interestingly, researchers also extrapolated their conclusions to say that a high-pitched voice is also associated with submissiveness apart from small bodies. Now, that is a controversial observation and more research needs to be done to prove that claim.3
4. Hip-To-Waist Ratio
Women all over the world have been wanting to look like Victoria’s Secret models because that has been seen and set as the standard of beauty. Tiny waist, long torso, and flat stomach are features that women want. But amazingly, men find slightly different morphological attributes attractive. According to researchers, men find women who have hip to waist ratio(HWR) in the range of 6.8 to 8 most attractive.4
Interestingly, that is one thing common between Marilyn Monroe and Kate Moss. So, it is not the body weight but rather body shape that men seem to be more attracted towards.
5. The Importance Of Humor
Women love funny guys, but as it turns out men like funny women too. A research shows that ‘sense of humor’ is an important trait that people want in their partners. According to a published research, both men and women equally value and seek this trait in their partners. But once researchers started looking into this more in depth, they found out that men value their partners’ ability to be receptive to their humor more than them producing good humor. Whereas women like their partners to be both producers of good humor as well as receptive to their humor.5
So, it’s safe to say that men want women to be funny but they want them to be able to laugh more. So, giggle your way into their hearts, ladies! (But skip it when they are not funny.)
6. The Key Is Emotional Openness
A study has unveiled this quality to be an important one that dictates attraction. This quality is one’s ability to comprehend others’ emotions clearly. Scientists believe that people are more likely to be attracted to those whom they can clearly understand. In this study, men were shown clips of women and they found women they could clearly see through emotionally more attractive than others. Scientists believe that this certainty and understanding activate the reward center in the brain and more activity takes place in the brain due to this, which can be the reason.6
So, it turns out that the key to a man’s heart is through his brain. Your emotional openness can impress a man. But that doesn’t mean you should stop being yourself. Feel and react as you want as being fake can never impress anyone.
7. Personality Is A Big Factor
Beauty is more than just skin deep for men. Positive personality traits seem to have a positive effect on the perception of beauty for men. According to a study, men were divided into two groups and asked to rate women. But one group had to rate based on only the physical appearance of women whereas the other group got personality profiles as well. The results showed that the latter group found a variety of body types and sizes to be more attractive compared to the former group which inclined heavily towards a set body type.7
Hence, positive personality traits seem to be a factor that can change the way a man perceives beauty. So, it is high time we give men some credit for this and stop assuming they are just ‘all about the bass’.
This list contains only a small number of traits that can be deemed ‘attractive’. But there is so much more out there. No one (man or woman) has to fit into a category to be attractive. Sometimes, it is your uniqueness that makes you attractive. So, embrace it all.
References
