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