What influences women’s physical attraction to men? Women’s romantic preferences are of great interest to the general public and the scientific community alike, and although the popular media often portrays female sexuality as a mystery, scientific research has revealed several factors that influence women’s attraction to men. Women find men more attractive when they have average, symmetrical facial features that display certain masculine qualities (a prominent chin and cheekbones) and a body that is symmetrical and muscular (but not muscle bound), with the shoulders somewhat wider than the hips. Men who are slightly taller than average and who have a relatively deep voice are also preferred by women. Research focused on nonphysical characteristics has shown that women find men more attractive when they are kind, agreeable, intelligent, high in status, emotionally stable, and good-humored.
In the present research, they investigate color, specifically the color red, as a novel factor that may influence women’s attraction to men. Red carries amorous meaning in the context of heterosexual interaction. Research on color associations indicates that people across cultures link red to love and passion, and red often appears as a symbol of eros, lust, and fertility in ancient mythology, folklore, and ritual. Interestingly, in both ancient and modern times, red primarily carries the meaning of sex and romance with regard to women (e.g., lingerie; lipstick and nail polish; red-light districts; the red dress in literature, on the stage, and in films); there is no male equivalent to the “lady in red.” Thus, there are general, but not male-specific, cultural associations that link red and romance.
In many species of animals, however, male red appears to carry an amorous meaning for females, because females prefer (e.g., solicit copulation from) male conspecifics displaying the most and most intense red coloration. This female attraction to male red has been found in crustaceans (e.g., amphipods), fish (e.g., sticklebacks), birds (e.g., finches), and nonhuman primates (e.g., rhesus macaques). Even artificial red displays (e.g., red aluminum leg bands) that extend beyond natural bodily processes increase females’ attraction to male conspecifics. The present research tests the hypothesis that viewing red leads women to perceive men as more attractive and more sexually desirable. Furthermore, they posit that this red effect occurs because ladies see a “gentleman in red” as higher in status.
Elliot AJ, Niesta Kayser D, Greitemeyer T, et al. Red, rank, and romance in women viewing men. J Exp Psychol Gen;139(3):399-417.
In many nonhuman species of vertebrates, females are attracted to red on male conspecifics. Red is also a signal of male status in many nonhuman vertebrate species, and females show a mating preference for high-status males. These red-attraction and red-status links have been found even when red is displayed on males artificially. In the present research, we document parallels between human and nonhuman females' response to male red. Specifically, in a series of 7 experiments we demonstrate that women perceive men to be more attractive and sexually desirable when seen on a red background and in red clothing, and we additionally show that status perceptions are responsible for this red effect. The influence of red appears to be specific to women's romantic attraction to men: Red did not influence men's perceptions of other men, nor did it influence women's perceptions of men's overall likability, agreeableness, or extraversion. Participants showed no awareness that the research focused on the influence of color. These findings indicate that color not only has aesthetic value but can carry meaning and impact psychological functioning in subtle, important, and provocative ways.
In the present research, they investigate color, specifically the color red, as a novel factor that may influence women’s attraction to men. Red carries amorous meaning in the context of heterosexual interaction. Research on color associations indicates that people across cultures link red to love and passion, and red often appears as a symbol of eros, lust, and fertility in ancient mythology, folklore, and ritual. Interestingly, in both ancient and modern times, red primarily carries the meaning of sex and romance with regard to women (e.g., lingerie; lipstick and nail polish; red-light districts; the red dress in literature, on the stage, and in films); there is no male equivalent to the “lady in red.” Thus, there are general, but not male-specific, cultural associations that link red and romance.
In many species of animals, however, male red appears to carry an amorous meaning for females, because females prefer (e.g., solicit copulation from) male conspecifics displaying the most and most intense red coloration. This female attraction to male red has been found in crustaceans (e.g., amphipods), fish (e.g., sticklebacks), birds (e.g., finches), and nonhuman primates (e.g., rhesus macaques). Even artificial red displays (e.g., red aluminum leg bands) that extend beyond natural bodily processes increase females’ attraction to male conspecifics. The present research tests the hypothesis that viewing red leads women to perceive men as more attractive and more sexually desirable. Furthermore, they posit that this red effect occurs because ladies see a “gentleman in red” as higher in status.
Elliot AJ, Niesta Kayser D, Greitemeyer T, et al. Red, rank, and romance in women viewing men. J Exp Psychol Gen;139(3):399-417.
In many nonhuman species of vertebrates, females are attracted to red on male conspecifics. Red is also a signal of male status in many nonhuman vertebrate species, and females show a mating preference for high-status males. These red-attraction and red-status links have been found even when red is displayed on males artificially. In the present research, we document parallels between human and nonhuman females' response to male red. Specifically, in a series of 7 experiments we demonstrate that women perceive men to be more attractive and sexually desirable when seen on a red background and in red clothing, and we additionally show that status perceptions are responsible for this red effect. The influence of red appears to be specific to women's romantic attraction to men: Red did not influence men's perceptions of other men, nor did it influence women's perceptions of men's overall likability, agreeableness, or extraversion. Participants showed no awareness that the research focused on the influence of color. These findings indicate that color not only has aesthetic value but can carry meaning and impact psychological functioning in subtle, important, and provocative ways.
