The effects of male muscles on women…

A recent study from my alma mater (UCLA) by grad student David Frederick reported some interesting data on the way women judge men on the basis of muscularity. As usual, the popular press got it a bit wrong. For example, a Reuters headline proclaimed, “women drawn to men with muscles.” A more careful read of Frederick’s work suggests “it depends,” but that wouldn’t make a very exciting headline, would it?

In one part of Frederick’s study, 141 women were asked to rate six standard male silhouettes, varying from buff to not so buff. Frederick has a link to his UCLA body matrices on his site. Here is a sample:

Frederick suggests that the ratings demonstrate what he calls an “inverted U” pattern. As summarized on his website, “women’s preferences for muscularity follow a strong inverted-U pattern, where both non-muscular and extremely muscular men are dispreferred. This may suggest that women perceive a trade-off between the positive attributes of muscularity and the perceived volatility and direct threat that extremely muscular men may pose.”

Consistent with the findings of other researchers, Frederick found that muscular men were more likely to have had more sex partners than less muscular men. Although women found the muscular men attractive and suitable for a “fling,” they seemed to recognize that such men might not be the best bet for long term relationships.

Personally, I’ve been married 35 years to a shot putter who makes #28 look a tad wimpy. I’m not sure what Frederick would make of that–perhaps he would say that being a Bruin is the important variable….