Looking and smeling attractive

[bjf]

This has

been discussed before. The small sample size is the

problem.

[url]http://evolution.anthro.univie.ac.at/institutes/urbanethology/student/html/anja/anjapro.html[/u

rl]

[DrSmellThis]

Another important thing to

notice is that the study finds a correlation but no data about causality (I remind people of this merely because it

is good science, crucial, and professional to do so, by all accepted standards of science.). This means that we know

"things tend to hang together" in attractiveness, but we don't know why. Countless constructs relevant to

attraction hang together. We know some hormone levels (testosterone and estrogen, primarily) in general correlate

with some physical dimensions relevant to physical attraction but have no such data on most aspects of attraction,

on possible third causes of both, or on possible multiple causes. Some aspects of attaction are counter-intuitive as

well. There is still a dearth of good research on attraction that would be acceptable to psychologists; and their

standards are much higher scientifically than for, say, general biology, due to the complexity of human beings, our

high demands for knowledge of them; the difficulty of translating lab results to real life, and the fact that we are

studying ourselves. For example, it would be nice and simple to just proclaim that our attractiveness as men is

totally determined by our testosterone levels, or even mostly. But we "unfortunately" (for those who believe they

need simplistic, black and white explanations of everything) can't say that. Still, this is an important and

noteworthy study.

Having said all this, the authors' conclusion that smell tends to reveal some information

about general attractiveness seems responsible to the data, and is not a statement about causality.

It is also

interesting to note that sample size problems, though always important to note, are notoriously overestimated

in the human sciences. Statistical methods, when properly employed, compensate for sample size.

[tunnel]

so does this mean BJF? if you

look sexy you also smell sexy?

[bjf]

Yes.... for men.

Pheromones

are nothing but hormonal excrement being dumped out of the skin. They became something significant (pheromones) as

nature learned to use them as cues of the internal biology of potential mates.

Your hormone production and

pheromone production therefore is likely strongly correllated.

Hormones affect physical features. Square jaw

line, height, facial structure, etc. The average woman doesn't want a guy with an over abundant amount of

masculine hormones (for the most part), but relatively high testosterone levels are appeciated. This also relates

to symmatry in one's face. High t-levels, more symmatry (although their could be a point where it goes the other

way, not sure).

Women do look for some soft features too (the neanderthal look does not rule). This is

because they do not just need a sperm donar but someone to stick with them and raise the child.

There are

some studies about the pill changing all this, in terms of women's preferences in males. Also women in the UK for

instance tend to prefer a more feminine looking man than the US. I'd think that relates directly to what pheromone

signature they prefer.