The Science Behind Male and Female Attraction

According to psychologists, it only takes between 90 seconds and four minutes to determine whether you are attracted to someone. Natural attraction is complex and often confusing, but research suggests it has a lot to do with science. Genetics and chemicals affect physical appearance and smell, which suggest health and fertility. These scientific factors can affect subsequent responses to a potential mate, and are shown to have a large influence on the levels of attraction between men and women.

Symmetry 

Research suggests that more symmetry increases the attractiveness between men and women. From conception, the body develops by splitting cells. These cells ideally should be split with perfect symmetry, but often are not as they are subject to mutations and environmental factors. Better symmetry means that a person has survived development and avoided mutations, and therefore has good genetics. It suggests that they are healthy and will make a fertile choice for a mate, which increases their attractiveness to a potential partner. 

Physical Appearance 

Physical appearance is an important factor of natural attraction between the two sexes. Research suggests that men are more attracted to women with a waist significantly smaller than hips, as this implies fertility and good health. Face shapes in both men and women helps to determine health; generally the healthier a person is the more of a naturally attractive option they are for a mate. In men, a larger lower jaw and face is deemed more attractive to women, and in women a small and short chin, brow and lower face with eyes that are more prominent are qualities which men deem more attractive. 

Smell 

Smell has a significant influence in natural attraction between men and women. A man’s body odor can communicate a lot about the quality of his genes, which influences his appeal and attractiveness to another woman. In general, the smell of high-testosterone in males is much more appealing and increases the attractiveness of a man for a woman during her most fertile stage of her menstrual cycle. 

Chemicals 

Feelings of attraction can be influenced by the release of chemicals, such as serotonin.Chemicals play a vital role in natural attraction. During the first stages of lust and attraction between men and women the stress responses are activated and the body produces adrenaline. Serotonin is shown to be present, which causes a person to constantly think about the other person. Research also shows that new lovers have higher levels of dopamine, a chemical that increases energy and decreases the need for sleep and food, producing the same effect on the brain as cocaine.

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