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Omitted evidence undermines sexual motives explanation for attractiveness bias

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2017

Marianne LaFrance  and
Alice H. Eagly
Marianne LaFrance
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520 marianne.lafrance@yale.edu http://genderlab.yale.edu
Alice H. Eagly
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60108. eagly@northwestern.edu http://www.psychology.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/core/profiles/alice-eagly.html
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Abstract

This commentary makes three points: (1) the existing evidence does not consistently favor the proposed sex difference in attractiveness preferences, nor the fitness-related outcomes of attractiveness; (2) the neglected association of perceived attractiveness and trustworthiness allowed the authors to incorrectly attribute many findings solely to attractiveness, and (3) the importance accorded attractiveness in mate preferences is culturally shaped and likely evolutionarily novel.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 40 , 2017 , e31
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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