We knew this. You knew this. When it comes to sexual attraction, women pick “swaggering or brooding men” over guys who look happy, according to a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia.
"While showing a happy face is considered essential to friendly social interactions, including those involving sexual attraction – few studies have actually examined whether a smile is, in fact, attractive," says Prof. Jessica Tracy of UBC's Department of Psychology. "This study finds that men and women respond very differently to displays of emotion, including smiles."
The study found that women were least attracted to smiling, happy men, preferring those who looked proud and powerful or moody and ashamed. In contrast, male participants were most sexually attracted to women who looked happy, and least attracted to women who appeared proud and confident. Overall, the researchers found that men ranked women more attractive than women ranked men.
Sample images used in the study are available and the entire study is available for download in .pdf format.
"While showing a happy face is considered essential to friendly social interactions, including those involving sexual attraction – few studies have actually examined whether a smile is, in fact, attractive," says Prof. Jessica Tracy of UBC's Department of Psychology. "This study finds that men and women respond very differently to displays of emotion, including smiles."
The study found that women were least attracted to smiling, happy men, preferring those who looked proud and powerful or moody and ashamed. In contrast, male participants were most sexually attracted to women who looked happy, and least attracted to women who appeared proud and confident. Overall, the researchers found that men ranked women more attractive than women ranked men.
Sample images used in the study are available and the entire study is available for download in .pdf format.