London: Attractive women and square-jawed, masculine men are more likely to be interested in short-term sexual relationships or one-night stands, a new study has found.
The study, by Durham University researchers, ties in with research carried out by the same team that found that women see masculine men as more likely to be unfaithful and be bad parents.
Based on a survey of 700 heterosexuals, the study also found that when it comes to sex, young men and women have perspectives that are completely opposed to each other, reinforcing the Mars and Venus stereotype.
Men prefer women who seem to be open to short-term sexual relationships, while women seem more interested in men who are potentially long-term relationship material. Findings of the study have been published in the latest issue of the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour.
Participants in the study were shown pairs of photographs or "averaged" facial images of men and women in their early 20s with two opposing attitudes to relationships.
They were asked to choose the face that they felt would be more open to short-term sexual relationships, one-night stands and the idea of sex without love.
They were also asked which face they thought was the most attractive for a long- or short-term relationship, who was more masculine or feminine, and who they thought was generally attractive.
Women open to short-term sexual relationships were found to be more attractive, while men most open to casual sex were generally perceived as being more masculine-looking, with facial features including squarer jaws, larger nose and smaller eyes.
The study shows people can use their perceptions to make more informed partner selection depending on the type of relationship they are pursuing.
It is a significant step in further understanding the evolution of partner choice.
"Our results suggest that although some people can judge the sexual strategy of others simply from looking at their face, people are not always sure about their judgments possibly because the cues are very subtle," said co-author Lynda Boothroyd.
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