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Do Attractive Women Want It All?
Science Daily ^ | 3-24-2009 | University of Texas at Austin.

Posted on 03/24/2008 4:01:43 PM PDT by blam

Do Attractive Women Want It All?

ScienceDaily (Mar. 24, 2008) — Although many researchers have believed women choose partners based on the kind of relationship they are seeking, a new study from The University of Texas at Austin reveals women's preferences can be influenced by their own attractiveness.

David Buss, psychology researcher at the university, has published the findings in "Attractive Women Want it All: Good Genes, Economic Investment, Parenting Proclivities and Emotional Commitment" in this month's Evolutionary Psychology.

Previous researchers argued that what women value depended on the type of relationship they were looking for. Women looking for long-term partners want someone who will be a good provider for them and their children, but women seeking short-term flings care more about masculinity and physical attractiveness, features that may be passed down to children.

Buss and Todd Shackelford, psychology professor at Florida Atlantic University, found women ideally want partners who have all the characteristics they desire, but they will calibrate their standards based on their own desirability.

"When reviewing the qualities they desire in romantic partners, women gauge what they can get based on what they got," Buss said. "And women who are considered physically attractive maintain high standards for prospective partners across a variety of characteristics."

The researchers identified four categories of characteristics women seek in a partner:

good genes, reflected in desirable physical traits, resources, the desire to have children and good parenting skills, and loyalty and devotion. Most women attempt to secure the best combination of the qualities they desire from the same man, but the researchers said a small portion of women who do not find a partner with all the qualities may trade some characteristics for others.

Although women's selectivity across categories reflected how attractive they appeared to other people, the researchers found the characteristics men desired in a partner did not vary based on their own physical attractiveness.

Adapted from materials provided by University of Texas at Austin.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: attractive; partners; psychology; relationship; women
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1 posted on 03/24/2008 4:01:44 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam

I really hope this study didn’t cost us a lot of money.


2 posted on 03/24/2008 4:02:40 PM PDT by krb (If you're not outraged, people probably like having you around.)
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To: blam
Capt Obvious, you have a call on the white phone...


3 posted on 03/24/2008 4:05:04 PM PDT by darkwing104 (Lets get dangerous)
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To: blam
The researchers identified four categories of characteristics women seek in a partner: good genes, reflected in desirable physical traits, resources, the desire to have children and good parenting skills, and loyalty and devotion.

left out the most important item MONEY

4 posted on 03/24/2008 4:06:52 PM PDT by piroque
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To: blam

I remember those women from when I was single. They would never leave me alone.


5 posted on 03/24/2008 4:08:49 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (When you choose the lesser of two evils, you still have evil.)
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To: piroque

“resources” includes money, my FRiend.


6 posted on 03/24/2008 4:08:56 PM PDT by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
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To: krb

You win the funnies line of the week.


7 posted on 03/24/2008 4:09:20 PM PDT by bmwcyle (McCain has yet to give conservatives a reason to vote for him)
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To: blam

“That has been my experience.”


8 posted on 03/24/2008 4:10:24 PM PDT by OKSooner
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To: blam

Unless they have a really low self esteem, then you see the beautiful woman with the 300 lb beast.


9 posted on 03/24/2008 4:12:18 PM PDT by Tamar1973 (Riding the Korean Wave, one recipe at a time http://www.youtube.com/Tamar1973)
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To: blam
a new study from The University of Texas at Austin reveals women's preferences can be influenced by their own attractiveness.

Another reason I got a lady from the Philippines. Average men can get a good wife, who is also beautiful. Not all are good, so I was very selective and sucessful at it.

10 posted on 03/24/2008 4:21:10 PM PDT by Mark17
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To: blam

The Husband Store

A store that sells new husbands has just opened in New York City , where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates:

You may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the value of the product increases as the shopper ascends the flights. The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband.
On the first floor the sign on the door reads:
Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs.

The second floor sign reads: Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.

The third floor sign reads: Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.

“Wow,” she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads: Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.
“Oh, mercy me!” she exclaims, “I can hardly stand it!”

Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads: Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes on to the sixth floor and the sign reads: Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor.

This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.


11 posted on 03/24/2008 4:25:33 PM PDT by umgud
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To: blam
Although women's selectivity across categories reflected how attractive they appeared to other people, the researchers found the characteristics men desired in a partner did not vary based on their own physical attractiveness.

Finally explained! I have always wondered why the most unattractive guy in every way approaches the most desirable woman in every way and is shocked when she turns him down. Even though many guys could never catch the '10', they look down on the woman in their range and think they can catch what they desire.

12 posted on 03/24/2008 4:25:47 PM PDT by GOP Poet
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To: blam

I’ve seen a lot of smoking hot women clinging to absolute losers.


13 posted on 03/24/2008 4:26:02 PM PDT by fso301
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To: ElkGroveDan
I remember those women from when I was single. They would never leave me alone.

Damn, you mean the girls still don't want to have it all? ;^)

14 posted on 03/24/2008 4:28:31 PM PDT by dforest
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To: GOP Poet
The laws of probability are on their side.


15 posted on 03/24/2008 4:29:12 PM PDT by ROP_RIP
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To: indylindy

Nah, they just know that in my case someone else got it all and they are afraid of her.


16 posted on 03/24/2008 4:30:08 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (When you choose the lesser of two evils, you still have evil.)
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To: blam; Slings and Arrows
Perhaps this song getting stuck in my head would be an inevitability...
17 posted on 03/24/2008 4:31:32 PM PDT by GOP_Raider ("Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torments of man" -Nietzsche)
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; neodad; hispanarepublicana

So I can guess we can expect a raise in tuition at UT next academic year...


18 posted on 03/24/2008 4:32:39 PM PDT by GOP_Raider ("Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torments of man" -Nietzsche)
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To: ElkGroveDan

I understand, we women would do anything to protect our stud muffins from predators.


19 posted on 03/24/2008 4:34:11 PM PDT by dforest
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To: blam
If you want to be happy for the rest of your life
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view
Get an ugly girl to marry you

A pretty woman makes her husband look small
And very often causes his downfall
As soon as he marries her, then she starts
Doin' the things that will break his heart

refrain

But if you make an ugly woman your wife
You'll be happy for the rest of your life
An ugly woman cooks your meals on time
An she'll always give you peace of mind

refrain

Don't let your friends say you have no taste
Go ahead and marry anyway
Though her face is ugly and her eyes don't match
Take it from me, she's a better catch

refrain

ARTIST: Jimmy Soul
TITLE: If You Wanna Be Happy
20 posted on 03/24/2008 4:34:32 PM PDT by Sudetenland (I (heart) "Big Oil!")
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