Men like soft and gentle feminine features. But does this softness evoke deep feelings – or just a desire to have a lighthearted romance?
The standards of female beauty are no longer mandatory. Reasoning on the topic of male preferences came down to one conclusion – everyone likes a certain type of appearance, figure and face.
But the results of studies published in the British Journal of Psychology show that some features of the female face affect the choice of men in a very specific way.
Delicate features – soft lines, rounded oval and narrow cheekbones – attract men … but do not dispose them to long-term relationships. They are especially attractive to those who are already in a relationship. This pattern was discovered by a team of scientists from the Universities of Stirling, Glasgow, McMaster and the School of Psychology and Neurology (UK).
Those who are willing to risk a serious relationship set more stringent selection criteria
The researchers studied the behavior of 393 men, 207 of whom were already in a relationship. They were shown 10 pairs of photographs. Each pair depicted the same female face, to which the computer program assigned more and less pronounced feminine features.
The experiment confirmed the existing conjecture – the majority of men chose portraits with “feminine” facial features.
The scientists then suggested considering girls as partners for long-term or short-term relationships.
The most feminine girls – if they exist in reality, and not just in altered portraits – would be on the list of contenders for short-term novels. Moreover, unfree men chose the most feminine faces for relationships “on the side”.
For short-term relationships in the experiment, men chose girls with feminine features
The researchers concluded that those who are willing to risk a serious relationship set more stringent selection criteria for a temporary partner. And for free men, it is easier to make a choice – and they can lower the bar for femininity of candidates. But for short-term relationships in the experiment, they also chose girls with feminine features.
Research like this helps explain the mysteries of male behavior. But girls with feminine features need not despair. After all, any relationship is individual and is built not only on subconscious reactions, but also on other equally important factors.