ABSTRACT
The evolutionary perspective to understanding relationships predicts that all humans have genetically inherited instincts that affect whom we find attractive. These instincts, while often below conscious awareness, lead to patterns in what is perceived as attractive on an almost universal level – meaning they are found in multiple samples regardless of demographics, culture, and so on. There are three specific characteristics that appear to have this kind of evolutionary foundation. The first is bilateral symmetry, or the perception that one’s left-side and right-side features match. Symmetry might explain a preference for ‘averaged’ or composite faces that are computer-generated. The second attractive trait is neoteny, which is when facial features are considered youthful. Finally, we prefer mates with certain body types, including a specific waist-to-hips ratio in women and a specific waist-to-shoulders ratio in men. Each trait is reviewed and discussed in terms of why it might be attractive from an evolutionary lens.
