In a species that reproduces sexually, sexual attraction is an attraction to other members of the same species for sexual or erotic activity. This type of attraction is often important for the survival of a sexually reproducing species, while in many species it serves no immediate reproductive goal – indeed, much sexual behaviour among humans is undertaken as a purely social activity. Common elements of sexual attraction in humansCertain aspects of what is sexually attractive to humans may differ amongst particular cultures or regions. Influencing factors may be determined more locally among sub-cultures or simply by the preferences of the individual. These preferences come about as a result of a variety of genetic, psychological, and cultural factors. The sexual attraction of one person to another depends on both people.
Much of human sexual attractiveness is governed by physical attractiveness. This involves the impact one's appearance has on the senses, especially in the beginning of a relationship:
Visual perception (how the other looks);
Olfaction (how the other smells, naturally or artificially; the wrong smell may be repulsive);
Audition (how the other's voice and/or movements sound).
Some studies suggest that one source of the physical attractiveness of a human female to a human male is dependent upon a proportion between the width of the hips and the width of the waist (aka waist-hip ratio) (see Golden ratio for other examples of aesthetically appealing ratios).
As with other animals, pheromones may also enter into the picture, though less significantly. Theoretically, the "wrong" pheromone may cause someone to be disliked, even when they would otherwise appear attractive. Frequently a pleasant smelling perfume is used to encourage the member of the opposite sex to more deeply inhale the air surrounding its wearer, increasing the probability that the pheromones from the individual will also be inhaled. The importance of pheromones in human relationships is probably limited and widely disputed[1], although it appears to have some scientific basis.[2]
A sexually attractive visual appearance in humans generally involves:
A general body shape and appearance sanctioned by the local culture;
a lack of visible disease or deformity;
a high degree of mirror symmetry between the left and right sides of the body, particularly of the face;
a pleasing body posture.
However, these factors are complicated by many other factors. There may sometimes be a focus on particular features of the body, such as breasts, buttocks, legs, hair or musculature.
In Western societies, various cultural features may reflect the preference for neotenic female partners, or females that, although adults, still retain many qualities of a juvenile. These include depilatory practices (acomoclitism such as intentional hair removal for visual and other effects) [1].
A strong aspect to sexual attraction is proportion. It is typical for a plastic surgeon to correct a perceived error of proportion, such as reshaping a nose via rhinoplasty, or making breasts larger via breast implantation. However, plastic surgery can also accidentally or intentionally produce disproportionate features as well, for instance the oversized breast implants of some exotic dancers.
In regard to the female genitalia in the West, the aesthetic consensus stresses the roundness and largeness of the labia majora, and the symmetry of the labia minora. Vulval aesthetics are relatively new in being observed, as previously the female genitalia was regarded as either repulsive, uninteresting, non-existent or taboo in Western culture. Realisation to the contrary, following the feminist movement, sexual revolution and the expansion of pornography, has brought about a new realm of plastic surgery and so-called "designer vaginas".
The appearance of health also plays a part in physical attraction. Often, women with long hair are thought to appear more beautiful, as the ability to grow long, healthy-looking hair is an indication of the continuous health of an individual. Another indication of the health of an individual is the ability to grow long, strong, healthy-looking fingernails. The preference for this effect has resulted in the fact that artificial nails and manicures have grown extensively popular for women beginning in the 20th century. Toenails also feature as a component of sexual attractiveness to some degree. Healthy-looking skin is also considered a trait of beauty.
Weight, whether tending toward lighter or heavier, is also a very significant physical factor governing attractiveness in both genders. In general, individuals with excessively low or high fat levels are considered less attractive than those of a more healthy body composition. In some societies an above average amount of fat is widely seen as sexually attractive, and in others, a below average amount. The reasons for this are debated. One theory is that certain limited amounts of visible fat can be a sign of healthy retention of essential nutrition, helpful in times of famine or when nurturing a foetus. Another theory is that the fat may be a result of a large, rich diet, provided by that individual's wealth, and thus social desirability. Obesity, however, is rarely seen as attractive, and even when overweight individuals are considered attractive it is usually because they still retain other factors perceived as attractive.
The age of the prospective candidate also plays a role, with at least perceived youthfulness playing a role in a level of male attraction towards females, most notably in the West. This may be a personal preference or culturally defined.
Factors determining sexual attraction to human males
Gustav Klimt's The Kiss, oil on canvas, illustrates a couple sharing a kiss.
The initial attraction usually begins with the physical features of the human form and attire, and by a positive expression of the face and body.
For heterosexual and bisexual females as well as homosexual and bisexual males across the world, regardless of culture, the one near-universal trait of attractiveness for a man to have is a v-shaped torso: a relatively narrow waist offset with broad shoulders. While some cultures prefer their males huskier and others leaner, the rule of a v-shaped torso generally holds true.[citation needed]
It has been shown that women prefer more masculine men during the fertile period of the menstrual cycle and more feminine men during other parts of the cycle.[3] Masculine facial features are characterised by a strong brow and a broad jaw whereas feminine features are less pronounced.
It is thought that the sexual attractiveness of a man to some women is partly determined by the height. In modern culture it is usually preferable that the male be slightly taller than the female for a long-term relationship to form. Some women prefer that the man be a little above the average in height in the given population of males because it unconsciously seems to them a sign of dominance and masculinity. Although height is one aspect of male-to-male dominance, as men mature this aspect becomes less important. Height says very little about one's health and fitness in most cases in areas of the world where the vast majority of people reach their genetic growth potential.
Those who believe that the muscular contour of the male is attractive will choose males with well-defined muscles. Males who make use of their hormone, testosterone, through exercise or bodybuilding techniques typically find themselves more attractive as their muscles take shape.
At various times throughout history and various cultures and sub-cultures, the growth, maintenance and display of facial or body hair has been considered a primary characteristic of sexual attractiveness, and of a display of masculinity in general. Cultural development seems to oscillate through multi-generational cycles from one pole to another: extreme hair growth, especially of facial hair accompanied by elaborate grooming rituals, is often followed within a couple of generations by a widespread antipathy to body hair and the widespread adoption of depilatory practices. The causal mechanism for this oscillation has not been established, but differences in the simultaneous characterisation of body hair attractiveness within a culture between different social classes may indicate that the dynamic force driving the diffusion of differing body hair social practices is in fact mate selection by females.[citation needed] Other aspectsMany people exhibit high levels of sexual fetishism, and are sexually aroused by other stimuli not normally associated with sexual arousal. The degree to which such fetishism exists or has existed in different cultures is controversial.
Often the result of a sexual attraction is sexual arousal.
