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My anecdotal experience is that the response-curve to muscularity for heterosexual women is non-linear (now there's a sentence I'd only write on HN...), and the

by yaseer 4y ago

My anecdotal experience is that the response-curve to muscularity for heterosexual women is non-linear (now there's a sentence I'd only write on HN...), and there's only a correlative effect for normal range BMIs. I've been thin, athletic and quite muscular (BMI > 30, 12% bodyfat from powerlifting), and muscular physiques with BMI > 30 are considered less attractive than athletic physiques (Defined as BMI 20-25, 10-15% bodyfat). Also, deviating away from heteronormative perspectives, I would speculate that the response curve for homosexual men may be linear for higher ranges. i.e. Gay men like significant muscle, but straight women prefer athletic builds, on average. A cursory glance at some adult sites for these markets might support this admittedly anecdotal assertion.

muldvarp 4y ago
> My anecdotal experience is that the response-curve to muscularity for heterosexual women is non-linear (now there's a sentence I'd only write on HN...), and there's only a correlative effect for normal range BMIs. No need to rely on your anecdotal experience, there is actual data if you read the linked studies: > Contrary to popular theories of men's physical attractiveness, there was no evidence of a nonlinear effect; the strongest men were the most attractive in all samples.
- yaseer 4y ago
  That's interesting, you're right, the article does report a linear-only relationship! They may not have sampled muscular BMIs much above 30 though: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745404/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745404/ Gym sample: > n = 61, mean BMI: 24.0, s.d.: 2.75 ~5% would be above 2 s.d => 3 people with BMI above 29.5 My 'theory' would be for muscular builds with BMIs above 30, the linear relationship breaks down for heterosexual women. You might need a larger sample to test that, perhaps with a bodybuilding sample rather than college students.

by yaseer 4y ago

muldvarp 4y ago

> My anecdotal experience is that the response-curve to muscularity for heterosexual women is non-linear (now there's a sentence I'd only write on HN...), and there's only a correlative effect for normal range BMIs. No need to rely on your anecdotal experience, there is actual data if you read the linked studies: > Contrary to popular theories of men's physical attractiveness, there was no evidence of a nonlinear effect; the strongest men were the most attractive in all samples.

yaseer 4y ago
That's interesting, you're right, the article does report a linear-only relationship! They may not have sampled muscular BMIs much above 30 though: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745404/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745404/ Gym sample: > n = 61, mean BMI: 24.0, s.d.: 2.75 ~5% would be above 2 s.d => 3 people with BMI above 29.5 My 'theory' would be for muscular builds with BMIs above 30, the linear relationship breaks down for heterosexual women. You might need a larger sample to test that, perhaps with a bodybuilding sample rather than college students.