Men want hot women, study confirms

[Policenaut]

In other news the earth revolves around the sun.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/09/04/dating.mating.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

[Damien Evans]

Also, a day is roughly 24 hours long.

[shemp]

I prefer my women to be approximately 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. And goats 102.5.

[Puppycow]

A shocker there. Slow news day?

[HarryKeogh]

I prefer ugly women.

-Bizarro World HarryKeogh

[GhostofMaxwell.]

I prefer intelligent women, but the jugs are a bonus.:)

[TragicMonkey]

Eww. Women.

[Sir Robin Goodfellow]

I like women that are female.

[ImaginalDisc]

From the article:

"Participants ranged in age from 26 to their early 40s and took part in "speed dating," short meetings of three to seven minutes in which people chat, then move on to meet another dater. Afterward, participants check off the people they'd like to meet again, and dates can be arranged between pairs who select one another."

Just sayin', when meeting a stranger for "three to seven minutes" looks are mostly what you get.

[Miss Anthrope]

Yes, and women prefer men who make good providers for their young. What exciting news. Why, I'm sure the evolutionary biologists are simply clucking like hens over this one.

[The Painter]

How much did they spend (waste) on that study?? I would have told them that for free.

[progressquest]

My favorite line:

Men tended to select nearly every woman above a certain minimum attractiveness threshold, Todd said.

Do you think I can use that phrase in the dating game?

[WildCat]

In other news the earth revolves around the sun.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/09/04/dating.mating.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
I think I have this one all figured out!

"Just because people say they're looking for a particular set of characteristics in a mate, someone like themselves, doesn't mean that is what they'll end up choosing," Peter M. Todd, of the cognitive science program at Indiana University, Bloomington, said in a telephone interview.
Researchers led by Todd report...

Their study involved 26 men and 20 women in Munich, Germany.
Looks like Prof. Todd convinced IU to pay for him to travel to Munich (I'd love to find out if it was in October!) to find out if... men prefer hot women! Maybe he brought along a few grad students, maybe even a hot grad student!

Well done Prof. Todd, way to finagle a free trip to Munich! :th:

[parrotslave]

Kissing means more to women (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6975794.stm)

Rock stars more likely to die prematurely (http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSL0127266120070904)

[IMST]

Eww. Women.

Ditto.

[CptColumbo]

Committee member:What exactly are you trying to prove?

Prof: That men are attracted to attractive women.

CM: Uh-huh.

Prof: That's it.

CM: And how will you prove this?

Prof: I'll hang out in malls, and see if I'm turned on by hot women.

CM: Uh-huh. So, is there room in your staff for my nephew?

Prof: Certainly, he can head up the "breast size factor" portion of the study.

CM: Well it'll be good for a few articles on a slow news day.

[bigred]

Wow what a great study, money well spent I'll say. I can't wait for the one which confirms - after 10 years of lab tests and double-blind blah de blah - that people hate sharp sticks in the eye.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

My favorite line:

Men tended to select nearly every woman above a certain minimum attractiveness threshold, Todd said.

Do you think I can use that phrase in the dating game?

Of course, that threshold goes lower with increased intake of beer.

[NoZed Avenger]

In related news, University of Texas researchers unlock the puzzle of "Why People Have Sex."

http://www.utexas.edu/opa/news/2007/07/psychology31.html


The Texas psychologists identified four major factors and 13 sub-factors for why people have sex:

Physical reasons such as to reduce stress ("It seemed like good exercise"), feel pleasure ("It's exciting"), improve or expand experiences ("I was curious about sex"), and the physical desirability of their partner ("The person was a good dancer").

Goal-based reasons, including utilitarian or practical considerations ("I wanted to have a baby"), social status ("I wanted to be popular") and revenge ("I wanted to give someone else a sexually transmitted disease").

Emotional reasons such as love and commitment ("I wanted to feel connected") and expression ("I wanted to say 'thank you'").

Insecurity-based reasons, including self-esteem ("I wanted the attention"), a feeling of duty or pressure ("My partner kept insisting") and to guard a mate ("I wanted to keep my partner from straying").
Sayeth a researcher:

"Why people have sex is extremely important, but rarely studied," Buss said. "Surprisingly, many scientists assume the answer is obvious, but people have different reasons for having sex, some of which are rather complex."


Absolutely. I mean, look at the complex list above: "The person was a good dancer"; "I wanted to be popular."

Thank goodness some researchers are willing to step up to the plate and try to discover the good looking people are attractive and why they have sex.

[notsoshocked]

Of course, that threshold goes lower with increased intake of beer.

LOL, I must not stay late enough :D

[boooeee]

Multiple Stab Wounds May Be Harmful to Monkeys (http://www.theonion.com/content/video/study_multiple_stab_wounds_may_be)

[petra10]

mmmm this study was conducted in Germany....wonder if Oliver was involved?
Personally I like men who make me laugh.

[NoZed Avenger]

mmmm this study was conducted in Germany....wonder if Oliver was involved?
Personally I like men who make me laugh.

Women SAY that -- and then when I ask them out, they laugh and laugh -- but they still won't go out with me.

[Tanja]

Women SAY that -- and then when I ask them out, they laugh and laugh -- but they still won't go out with me.

I have to say that I always somehow imagined, based on your writing style and personality, that you are drop dead gorgeous!

[petra10]

Yea I agree Tanja I bet NoZed Avenger is hot! hot! hot!

[TragicMonkey]

Multiple Stab Wounds May Be Harmful to Monkeys (http://www.theonion.com/content/video/study_multiple_stab_wounds_may_be)

And making the attempt might be even more harmful to humans. :mdance:

[NoZed Avenger]

I have to say that I always somehow imagined, based on your writing style and personality, that you are drop dead gorgeous!


That's what *I* keep insisting!!








Bless you.

[NoZed Avenger]

Yea I agree Tanja I bet NoZed Avenger is hot! hot! hot!


Ooooooh.

If you speak as a Scots we may have something here.

[Cain]

It would be cheaper, and you would arguably get better results by doing this thing online. Then you could adjust for all types of variables, and the profile feature allows a person to systematically flesh out their interests.

[SynapticDancer]

Here's my question, what are they basing the "threshold" of attractivness? They state that men "Men tended to select nearly every woman above a certain minimum attractiveness threshold" but who set it?

I ask because many people find different things attractive. This study really seems to determine if men seem to prefer women that the researchers deem attractive, but does that really predict the man's motivation? A man could be equally motivated to be with a woman based on her looks, and yet that woman might not fit the mold of what is conventionally attractive? So what is this study really trying to measure?

[Starthinker]

This thread could use lots of pictures.

[John Smith]

I heard this study joked about on NPR radio today. But when I read the CNN report, it turned out to have some interesting detail in it. I think such studies are not a waste of money as the joke goes, I think they help us check our beliefs and help us form models. without such studies we'd still be trying to work this stuff out with freudian theory ( or other unfalsifiable theories)

[Travis]

Bahhhh! So that's what I've been doing wrong.

Attractive women....duh....attractive women!


........wait........attractive women are even less likely to date me.


Shoot.......where's that Prozac?

[003998]

How much did they spend (waste) on that study?? I would have told them that for free.

I think I have this one all figured out!

Looks like Prof. Todd convinced IU to pay for him to travel to Munich (I'd love to find out if it was in October!) to find out if... men prefer hot women! Maybe he brought along a few grad students, maybe even a hot grad student!

Well done Prof. Todd, way to finagle a free trip to Munich! :th:

I can see many of the initial comments as humorous reactions to the title of the linked article, but comments like that take it a little to far in my opinion.

In one of Peter´s talks I attended, he was talking about how the media distort scientific findings, especially in studies such as this. I´m surprised that you (skeptics) assume this "summary" by CNN to draw an accurate picture of the study.
Peter´s research is not an isolated attempt to collect funding with "sexy" topics, but is connected to a research program (instigated by Gerd Gigerenzer and in the tradition of Herbert Simon) that investigates the strategies people employ to make a large variety of decisions and judgements. The key question here is whether people rely on involved compensatory or simple non-compensatory rules. The reason that this study was conducted in Munich is that Peter lived in Germany for a long time and still has strong ties with the German Max Planck institute.
There is definitely more behind this work than what is "summarized" in the linked article and similar articles.

[UserGoogol]

How much did they spend (waste) on that study?? I would have told them that for free.

Yes, and of course scientists should simply accept common knowledge rather than rigorously test and verify their hypotheses. It would be a waste of money otherwise.

[JJM 777]

men are attracted to attractive women
< = >
"men are thinking what they are thinking"
"men are wanting what they are wanting"

Who could have known?

[dementedcactus]

So there a scientific reason to why I like hot girls and not just a perverted one?

[WildCat]

Yes, and of course scientists should simply accept common knowledge rather than rigorously test and verify their hypotheses. It would be a waste of money otherwise.
Perhaps you'd like to fund my scientific study on whether or not people prefer tasty food to food that tastes like stale cardboard? After all, we can't simply accept common "knowledge" as fact! And btw, I think this study would best be done in France, they're known for their great food.

[dementedcactus]

Perhaps you'd like to fund my scientific study on whether or not people prefer tasty food to food that tastes like stale cardboard? After all, we can't simply accept common "knowledge" as fact! And btw, I think this study would best be done in France, they're known for their great food.
Where do I sign up?

[Andronicus]

While not the original intent to test for it, the study mentioned in the OP also indicates that men lie about what they want to get sex with who they want. Who would have believed it?

(This observation credited to NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!)

[yairhol]

Here's my question, what are they basing the "threshold" of attractivness? They state that men "Men tended to select nearly every woman above a certain minimum attractiveness threshold" but who set it?

I ask because many people find different things attractive. This study really seems to determine if men seem to prefer women that the researchers deem attractive, but does that really predict the man's motivation? A man could be equally motivated to be with a woman based on her looks, and yet that woman might not fit the mold of what is conventionally attractive? So what is this study really trying to measure?


There's a level of attractiveness in women that above it most guys would say that a woman is attractive. You will almost not find a single person (in the western world) that will say that the, let's say, U.S. beauty queen is not attractive. Slightly less number of people would agree that the last place in the beauty queen contest is attractive. And down we go with the agreement on attractiveness level until a certain level (not scientific of course) that most definately more people can agree that someone is attractive than those thinking that she is not attractive. I guess that's the *about* level of attractiveness that the study is talking about.

Regards,
Yair

[John Smith]

I can see many of the initial comments as humorous reactions to the title of the linked article, but comments like that take it a little to far in my opinion.

In one of Peter´s talks I attended, he was talking about how the media distort scientific findings, especially in studies such as this. I´m surprised that you (skeptics) assume this "summary" by CNN to draw an accurate picture of the study.
Peter´s research is not an isolated attempt to collect funding with "sexy" topics, but is connected to a research program (instigated by Gerd Gigerenzer and in the tradition of Herbert Simon) that investigates the strategies people employ to make a large variety of decisions and judgements. The key question here is whether people rely on involved compensatory or simple non-compensatory rules. The reason that this study was conducted in Munich is that Peter lived in Germany for a long time and still has strong ties with the German Max Planck institute.
There is definitely more behind this work than what is "summarized" in the linked article and similar articles.

Exactly, yes, the media just picks out parts of the results that entertain. And don't underestimate the insights that these scientists reach from looking at the FULL data and articles in full, rather than a quick excerpt on CNN or a joke on NPR.