WAIST-TO-HIP RATIO AND PREFERENCES FOR BODY SHAPE - A REPLICATION ANDEXTENSION

Evidence from Singh (1993a, Journal of Personality and Social Psycholo gy, 65, 293-307; 1993b, Human Nature, 4, 297-321; 1994, Personality an d individual Differences, 16, 123-132; 1995, Journal of Personality an d Social Psychology, 69, 1089-1101) clearly demonstrates the relation of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and apparent overall body weight to attrac tiveness judgements of male and female figures. The present study is a cross-cultural replication of Singh's studies. In addition, sex diffe rence meta-perceptions of attractiveness were considered. Overall resu lts support Singh's work, which finds the WHR the most parsimonious me asure of body physical attractiveness. With regard to the latter, a la rge consensus on preferences of ideal figures was found. Participants' perceptions of body shape and size showed both similarities and diffe rences to those in Singh's research, and are discussed in terms of WHR as an evolutionary adaptation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.