The effect of modeling on experience of physical attractiveness and unattractiveness

Abstract

In the present study we investigated the effect of professional modeling on the experience of both physical attractiveness and unattractiveness. We hypothesized that, according to the “lean athletic imperative”, models prefer more masculine male bodies and less feminine female bodies. Six body parts were selected: shoulders, chests (male figures) or breasts (female figures), waist, hips, buttocks and legs. Each body part was presented with 5 figures ranked in size. Two groups of participants, models (n=15, 7 females) and non-models (n=23, 13 females) judged the most attractive and the least attractive sizes of six body parts of male and female figures. Analyses have shown that, compared to non-models, models prefer more masculine male figures (narrower hips which induce a higher shoulder-to-hip ratio) and some more feminine characteristics in female body (longer legs). On the other hand, models prefer some less feminine characteristics in female figures (smaller breasts and narrower hips). In the case of the least attractive figures models showed lower tolerance towards characteristics that suggest a thicker look – larger breasts and buttocks, wider hips and shorter legs in female figures. Group differences for male bodies were not significant. Only a few gender differences were obtained: female participants preferred wider shoulders of female figures. Finally, larger male buttocks are less preferred by female models. These findings are generally in line with the “lean athletic imperative”. In the case of female bodies, models’ preference for a slender and fit look even goes against the typical feminine appearance.