Adiposity, compared with masculinity, serves as a more valid cue to immunocompetence in human mate choice

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Authors

Rantala, Markus J.
Coetzee, Vinet
Moore, Fhionna R.
Skrinda, Ilona
Kecko, Sanita
Krama, Tatjana
Kivleniece, Inese
Krams, Indrikis

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

The Royal Society

Abstract

According to the “good genes” hypothesis, females choose males based on traits that indicate the male’s genetic quality in terms of disease resistance. The “immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH)” proposed that secondary sexual traits serve as indicators of male genetic quality because they indicate that males can contend with the immunosuppressive effects of testosterone. Masculinity is commonly assumed to serve as such a secondary sexual trait. Yet women do not consistently prefer masculine looking men, nor is masculinity consistently related to health across studies. Here we show that adiposity, but not masculinity, significantly mediates the relationship between a direct measure of immune response (Hepatitis B antibody response) and attractiveness for both body and facial measurements. In addition, we show that circulating testosterone is more closely associated with adiposity than masculinity. These findings indicate that adiposity, compared to masculinity, serves as a more important cue to immunocompetence in female mate choice.

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Keywords

Mate choice, Good genes, Immunocompetence handicap hypothesis, Masculinity, Adiposity, Attractiveness

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Rantala, MJ ... et al 2013, 'Adiposity, compared with masculinity, serves as a more valid cue to immunocompetence in human mate choice', Proceedings of the Royal Society B : Biological Sciences, vol. 280, no.1751.