Beyond Nature Versus Culture: A Multiple Fitness Analysis of Variations in Grooming

Abstract

Psychological evidence suggests that sex differences in morphology havebeen modified by sexual selection so as to attract mates (intersexualselection) or intimidate rivals (intrasexual selection), Women competewith each other for high quality husbands by advertising reproductivevalue in terms of the distribution of fat reserves and by exaggeratingmorphological indicators of youthfulness such as a small nose and smallfeet and pale, hairless skin, Men's physical appearance tends tocommunicate social dominance, which has the combined effects ofintimidating reproductive rivals and attracting mates, In addition totheir attractiveness and intimidatory effects, human secondary sexualcharacters also provide cues to hormonal status and phenotypic qualityconsistent with the good genes model of sexual selection (which includesparasite resistance), Low waist-hip ratio is sexually attractive inwomen and indicates a high estrogen/testosterone ratio (which favorsreproductive function), Facial attractiveness provides honest cues tohealth and mate value, The permanently enlarged female breast appears tohave evolved under the influence of both the good genes and the runawayselection mechanisms. The male beard is not obviously related tophenotypic quality and may have evolved through a process of runawayintersexual selection.