Preferences across the Menstrual Cycle for Masculinity and Symmetry in Photographs of Male Faces and Bodies

Variation in facial masculinity and symmetry preferences across the menstrual cycle is moderated by relationship context.

In women, changes in preference during the menstrual cycle have been documented for attractiveness judgements of odour and various physical and behavioural male traits. Although many studies have demonstrated greater attraction to masculine traits, such as male faces, bodies, and voices, at high fertility, several recent studies present null results for these shifts in preferences. Moreover, ev...

Preferences for symmetry in faces change across the menstrual cycle.

Symmetry in human male faces may be a cue to heritable fitness benefits and is found attractive. Preferences for facial masculinity, another proposed marker of genetic quality, have been found to vary in ways that may maximise evolutionary relevant benefits and masculinity is found to be of increased attractiveness at peak fertility across the menstrual cycle. Here we show that women prefer mor...

Preferences for variation in masculinity in real male faces change across the menstrual cycle: Women prefer more masculine faces when they are more fertile

In women cyclical shifts in preference have been documented for odour and certain physical and behavioral male traits. For example, women prefer more masculinised male faces when at peak fertility than at other times in their menstrual cycle. In previous studies, the face images used have all been manipulated using computer graphic techniques. Here, we examine variation in preferences for perce...

Preferences for masculinity in male bodies change across the menstrual cycle.

In human females cyclic shifts in preference have been documented for odour and physical and behavioral male traits. Women prefer the smell of dominant males, more masculine male faces and men behaving more dominantly when at peak fertility than at other times in their menstrual cycle. Here we examine variation in preferences for body sexual dimorphism. Across two studies, both between- and wit...

PREFERENCES FOR MASCULINITY IN MALE BODIES CHANGE ACROSS THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE Running head: Menstrual cycle affects preferences for male bodies Authors and Affiliations: