Moody men more attractive to women

Women find happy men significantly less sexually attractive than brooding, swaggering types, according to research.

Instead women prefer men who look proud and powerful, or moody and ashamed, the study found.

The findings help to explain the enduring allure of "bad boys" and other iconic gender types.

The study looked at the attractiveness of commonly displayed unspoken emotions to the opposite sex.

Psychologists at the University of British Columbia asked more than 1,000 adults to rank the sexual attractiveness of images of the opposite sex displaying a range of emotions including happiness - broad smiles, pride - raised heads, puffed-up chests, and shame - lowered heads or averted eyes.

They found that women were least attracted to smiling, happy men, and preferred those who looked proud and powerful or moody and ashamed.

In contrast, men were most sexually attracted to women who looked happy, and least attracted to women who appeared proud and confident.

Professor Jessica Tracy, who led the study, said: “While showing a happy face is considered essential to friendly social interactions, including those involving sexual attraction – few studies have actually examined whether a smile is, in fact, attractive.

“This study finds that men and women respond very differently to displays of emotion, including smiles.”

Study co-author Alec Beall also said: “It is important to remember that this study explored first impressions of sexual attraction to images of the opposite sex.

“We were not asking participants if they thought these targets would make a good boyfriend or wife – we wanted their gut reactions on carnal, sexual attraction.”

Past studies have revealed that positive emotional traits and a nice personality to be highly desirable in relationship partners, he added.

The psychologists explained that other studies suggest that what people find attractive has been shaped by centuries of evolutionary and cultural forces.

For example, evolutionary theories suggest females are attracted to male displays of pride because they imply status, competence and an ability to provide for a partner and offspring.

An expression of pride exaggerates typically masculine physical features, such as upper body size and muscularity.

“Previous research has shown that these features are among the most attractive male physical characteristics, as judged by women,” Mr Beall said.

Smiling has also been linked to a lack of dominance, consistent with traditional gender norms of the “submissive and vulnerable” woman, but inconsistent with “strong, silent” man, the researchers said.

“Previous research has also suggested that happiness is a particularly feminine-appearing expression,” Mr Beall added.

Professor Tracy said: “Generally, the results appear to reflect some very traditional gender norms and cultural values that have emerged, developed and been reinforced through history, at least in Western cultures.

“These include norms and values that many would consider old-fashioned and perhaps hoped that we’ve moved beyond."

The findings are published in the American Psychological Association journal Emotion.

This article was published on Wed 25 May 2011