Part 5/16:
Physical Cues and Sexual Attractiveness
Men and women assess each other through a complex array of cues:
In women: Features like clear skin, symmetrical facial features, full lips, lustrous hair, and a favorable waist-to-hip ratio serve as indirect signals of health and fertility.
In men: Physical attractiveness signals health but also fertility. Men are drawn to cues that indicate a woman's youth and reproductive viability.
Preferences for age: Women tend to seek slightly older partners, valuing stability and resources, while men often prefer younger women, associating youth with fertility.
Notably, these preferences are subtle and unconsciously embedded rather than consciously deliberate.