1. Ray Garza, Roberto R. Heredia, & Anna B. Cieslicka
Male and Female Perception of Physical Attractiveness: An Eye Movement Study
Ray Garza, Roberto R. Heredia, & Anna B. Cieslicka

2. What do we consider attractive?
Physical characteristics (e.g., narrow waist, long legs, medium-large breasts) play an important role in determining attractiveness and selecting a potential mate (Dixon, Grimshaw, Linklater, and Dixon, 2010, 2011; Singh 1993, 1995; Platek & Singh, 2010).

3. Waist to hip ratio and breast size
Singh (1993, 1995)
WHR: Circumference of waist/hips
Associated with attractiveness and reproductive capability
First Pass Filter
Breasts
Predictors of attractiveness
Age

4. Skin Tone
Skin tone is an important sexually dimorphic trait in sexual selection (Van de Berghe & Frost, 1986; Frost, 1988, 2000, 2008).
Neotony
Fertility

5. Ethnic Differences
In examining profile WHRs, Hazda hunter gatherers preferred high WHRs in contrast to American men.
Similar preferences were found in viewing frontal images (Marlowe et al., 2005).

6. Eye Movement Research Suschinsky et al. (2007)
Reproductive relevant areas
Dural et al. (2008)
Evolved cognitive mechanisms
Dixon et al. (2010)
Regions of interest
Extensive eye tracking measurements

7. Experiment 1
In two experiments, eye tracking technology was used to examine visual attention and attraction
Experiment 1: Used 3 WHRs (0.7, 0.8, 0.9), and 3 breast sizes (Small, Medium, Large)
54 Participants
38 women
16 men

9. Attraction

10. Visual Measurements (Exp 1).

11. Visual Measurements

12. Visual Measurements

13. Visual Measurements

14. Discussion Experiment 1
WHR predicted ratings of attractiveness
Visual attention was focused on reproductive relevant areas
Men’s visual attention was significantly more than women
Visual regressions indicate the importance of the upper body in visual attention

15. Experiment 2
Experiment 1: Used 5 WHRs (0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9), 3 breast sizes (Small, Medium, Large), and Skin tone (Light, Dark).
98 participants
69 women
29 men

16. Attraction

17. Attraction Scale

18. Visual Measurements (Exp 2).

19. Visual Measurements

20. Visual Measurements

21. Visual Measurements

22. Visual Measurements

23. Discussion Experiment 2
Replicated results from experiment 1
Importance of using lower WHRs
Skin tone differences

24. General Discussion
Both experiments replicated previous research (Singh, 1993, 1995; Suschinsky et al., 2007, and Dixon et al., 2010).
We add to the existing literature by including a underrepresented population, such as Hispanics.

25. General Discussion
Attractiveness varies over a short period of time while one is viewing an image of a woman.
This study shows the importance of additional measurements (e.g., first fixation duration, and regressions) to accurately and precisely measure attractiveness.
Lastly, the results of the present study suggest gender differences in terms of attraction when viewing a female’s physical structure.

26. Selected References
Dixson, B.J., Grimshaw, G. M., Linklater, W. L., & Dixson, A. F. (2011). Eye-tracking of men’s preferences for waist-to-hip ratio and breast size of women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40(1),
Dixson, B. J., Grimshaw, G. M., Linklater, W. L., & Dixson, A. F. (2010). Watching the hourglass. Human Nature, 21(4),
Hall, C., Hogue, T., & Guo, K. (2011). Differential gaze behavior towards sexually preferred and non-preferred human figures. Journal of Sex Research, 48(5),
Platek, S. M., & Singh, D. (2010). Optimal waist to hip ratios in women activate neural reward centers in the brain. PLoS ONE, 5, 1-5.
Rayner, K. (1988). Eye movements in reading and information processing: 20 years of research. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 372.
Singh, D. (1993). Adaptive significance of female physical attractiveness: Role of waist-to-hip ratio. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65(2),
Singh, D. (1994). Is thin really beautiful and good? Relationship between waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and female attractiveness. Personality and Individual Differences, 16(1),
Suschinsky, K. D., Elias, L. J., & Krupp, D. B. (2007) Looking for Ms. Right: Allocating attention to facilitate mate choice decisions. Evolutionary Psychology, 5,
Van den Berghe, P. L., & Frost, P. (1986). Sexual color preference, sexual dimorphism and sexual selection: A case of gene culture co-evolution? Ethnic and Racial Studies, 9,