Integrating body movement into attractiveness research

Frontiers in Psychology
Bernhard FinkTodd K Shackelford

Abstract

People judge attractiveness and make trait inferences from the physical appearance of others, and research reveals high agreement among observers making such judgments. Evolutionary psychologists have argued that interest in physical appearance and beauty reflects adaptations that motivate the search for desirable qualities in a potential partner. Although men more than women value the physical appearance of a partner, appearance universally affects social perception in both sexes. Most studies of attractiveness perceptions have focused on third party assessments of static representations of the face and body. Corroborating evidence suggests that body movement, such as dance, also conveys information about mate quality. Here we review evidence that dynamic cues (e.g., gait, dance) also influence perceptions of mate quality, including personality traits, strength, and overall attractiveness. We recommend that attractiveness research considers the informational value of body movement in addition to static cues, to present an integrated perspective on human social perception.

References

Oct 1, 1987·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·P EkmanP E Ricci-Bitti
Dec 1, 1972·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·K DionE Walster
Feb 1, 1971·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·P Ekman, W V Friesen
May 29, 2000·Psychological Bulletin·J H LangloisM Smoot
Oct 31, 2000·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·E GrossmanR Blake
Nov 5, 2002·Annual Review of Psychology·James A RussellJose-Miguel Fernandez-Dols
Oct 16, 2003·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Karl GrammerRandy Thornhill
Dec 17, 2003·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Jon K ManerSteven L Neuberg
Jul 26, 2005·Vision Research·Emily D GrossmanAlvaro Pascual-Leone
Sep 2, 2005·Perception & Psychophysics·Nikolaus F TrojeMikhail Lavrov
Dec 2, 2005·Annual Review of Psychology·Gillian Rhodes
Dec 24, 2005·Nature·William M BrownRobert Trivers
Jul 27, 2006·Psychological Science·Janine Willis, Alexander Todorov
Dec 13, 2006·American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council·Bernhard FinkHanna Seydel
Aug 29, 2007·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Kerri L JohnsonLouis G Tassinary
Sep 14, 2007·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Meghan P ProvostNikolaus F Troje
Jan 5, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Francesca SimionHermann Bulf
May 1, 2008·Social and Personality Psychology Compass·Leslie A Zebrowitz, Joann M Montepare
Apr 2, 2010·Journal of Sex Research·Judith Lynne Hanna
Sep 10, 2010·Biology Letters·Nick NeaveBernhard Fink
Apr 22, 2011·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Julia BarskeLeonida Fusani
May 4, 2011·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Anthony C LittleLisa M DeBruine
Dec 24, 2011·PloS One·Pierre PicaNikolaus F Troje
Apr 18, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Rachael E JackPhilippe G Schyns
Jun 22, 2012·Cognition·John C ThoresenAnthony P Atkinson
Jan 10, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Disa A Sauter, Frank Eisner
Jan 26, 2013·American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council·Kristofor McCartyBernhard Fink
May 25, 2013·Perception·Krzysztof Kościński

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 23, 2015·Journal of Sex Research·Frederike WenzlaffArne Dekker
Apr 3, 2020·Journal of Sex Research·Malvina N SkorskaDoug P VanderLaan
Apr 24, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Andrew C Gallup, Bernhard Fink
Mar 25, 2017·PloS One·Markus KoppensteinerPia Stephan
Sep 7, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Conrad Izquierdo, M Teresa Anguera
Jan 7, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Norbert MeskóAndrás Láng

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

International Journal of Cosmetic Science
Nadine SamsonPaul J Matts
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV
Bernhard Fink, Paul J Matts
Evolutionary Psychology : an International Journal of Evolutionary Approaches to Psychology and Behavior
Robin S S KramerRobert Ward
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved