Brains are sexier than breasts and long legs, says study

A leading academic has said that intelligence makes a woman more attractive to men as it suggests a woman will be a more responsible mother

Louis Dore
Tuesday 26 May 2015 15:55 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Men value intelligence over breasts, long legs and other supposed attractive physical features, according to a study by a University of Cambridge academic.

Evolutionary biologist David Bainbridge has said: "The main thing that men are looking for is intelligence. Surveys have shown time and time again that this is the first thing that men look for."

He added that brains suggests a woman will be a more responsible mother, a trait that makes them more attractive to males.

Professor Bainbridge also said that men are only attracted to symmetrical features as they indicate a potential partner is young, healthy and has stable genes.

As a result, he also says men are not interested in the size of a woman’s breasts, as they are rarely symmetrical, and likewise the most important feature with legs is that they are straight, as unevenness suggests a developmental illness.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Professor Bainbridge said: "Breast size doesn’t matter. Large breasts are more likely to be asymmetric and men are more attracted to symmetry.

"And they look older more quickly, and men value youth. And men are not looking for long legs. Straight legs are a sign of genetic health, so that is something that is more attractive, but surveys have shown most men prefer regular length."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in