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Introduction
• Dieting in women of all ages can be explained by the current belief that thin is beautiful and good
• Women choose thin female figures as ideal
• Perceive their current body as fatter than the ideal
• Women also choose their ideal figure as much thinner than what they believe men’s preference to be
What do men want?
• To have sex with lots of hot women• Essentially, to pass on their genes, as
many genes as humanly possible. • Physical attractiveness, then, is a
fundamental determinant of mate choice• Hour glass figure
• Why?
Evolutionary Perspective
• Both men and women select mating partners who enable them to enhance their reproductive success
• Men need to mate with women who can have children that will survive
• Men possess mechanisms (conscious or unconscious) to detect these features
• In the EEA
Waist-to-Hip Ratio
• Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in women is a calculation characterized by enlarged chest, slender waist, and enlarged buttocks and hips
• Emerges after puberty in females
• A WHR of .7 is considered optimally “beautiful”
• WHR serves as an observable sign of the unobservable hormonal state – fertility & health
Evolutionarily…
• This makes complete sense!
• Evidence suggests that being extremely underweight or overweight can have adverse effects on female reproductive functions
• So, if we want to attract a mate…
Eating Disorders
• Anorexia Nervosa characterized by an abnormal fear of becoming obese, a distorted self-image, a persistent unwillingness to eat, and severe weight loss.
• Bulimia Nervosa characterized by episodic binge eating and followed by feelings of guilt, depression, and self-condemnation. It is often associated with measures taken to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, the use of laxatives, dieting, or fasting.
Current Trends
• Slender figures and an emphasis on thinness is prevalent in today’s society
• Hourglass to tubular
• 1960-1978 – gradual but definite evolution in ideal body shape for women
• More changes to come?
Possible explanations?
• Emergency strategy for reproductive suppression?
• Extreme intrasexual competition
• Serious mental illness