Disease prompts us to seek ‘healthier’ partners

PEOPLE are more attracted to healthy-looking partners if surrounded by dirt, disease or unattractive settings.

A team at Stirling University explored the idea that attraction is affected by environmental factors by asking participants to rate the attractiveness of faces after exposing them to a series of “disgusting” images, including a used handkerchief, an open wound and a crowded carriage on a train.

Scientists found men and women preferred the healthier-looking faces of the opposite sex after they viewed the pictures.

Women were much more likely to opt for very masculine men with symmetrical faces, and men chose the more feminine women, than when they were shown more neutral images of a handkerchief stained with blue dye, an older wound and an empty Tube carriage.

The study builds on research that shows in countries where disease is more common, women and men are more attracted to healthy-looking partners.

This contrasts with more developed countries where healthy appearance is not such an important factor.

The study suggests that in choosing a healthy looking partner in an unhealthy environment we are seeking good “gene-makers” to increase the survival chances of any offspring.

Psychologist Dr Anthony Little said: “If you see potential for disease around you, your valuing of a healthy partner adapts as a result.

www.alittlelab.com