Ratings of Physical Attractiveness as a Function of Age

Abstract

Holmes and Hatch (1938) theorized that physical attractiveness is related to erotic desirability and to biological superiority with the result that through selective breeding, the species, Homo sapiens, is improved. Elaborating this theory, Symons (1979) suggested that over the life span of a single individual, the correlation between physical attractiveness, erotic desirability, and biological superiority would ensure that the individual would have children only during periods of superior fitness. He also suggested that physical attractiveness is more important to males in selecting sex partners than it is to females. To test the theorizing of Holmes, Hatch, and Symons, it was hypothesized that following puberty a negative relationship would be found between an individual's age and ratings of physical attractiveness by judges of the opposite sex. Furthermore, the relationship would be more negative for ratings of women by men than for ratings of men by women. The negative relationship was found for ratings of women made by American men (n = 40) but not ratings of men made by American women (n = 40).