Attraction is a construct based on both biology and personal experiences. All humans are attracted to facial and body symmetry, for instance. Men tend to be attracted to a youthful appearance with a large hip to waist ratio. Women tend to find men with a large waist to shoulder ratio attractive. This is purely biological instinct as these individuals are most likely young and fertile. But individual traits such as large or small lips, high cheekbones, thick or thin eyebrows are largely personal preference based on past experiences. This is true for all people. And this is why you may think someone is beautiful, while your friend thinks the same person is hideous. Of course, there is also a societal aspect to this as well. For those prone to herd mentality, which most people are, different trends in hygiene and beauty standards as well as hair and fashion styles play a role as well.
For women, menstrual cycles also play a large role in what a woman finds attractive. When a woman is ovulating she is more likely to find a conventionally attractive male, with a large shoulder to waist ratio, chiseled features, and dominant looks and attitude more attractive. This is because when women are fertile they want to mate with the best possible mate, in this case likely the strongest, healthiest mate. So her offspring have a good chance at surviving. Of course, in our modern world this instinct isn't much needed anymore. Offspring that aren't too healthy can live just as long as very healthy offspring. This is true in people who need corrective lenses - historically (as long as glasses weren't around lol) their chances at survival would be lower than those with 20/20 vision - now they are able to survive just as well if not better than those who don't need lenses. This is true for many other afflictions, but I just used this as an easy example. This, of course, is not true for all women but it's generally the case. On the other hand, when women are not ovulating or are on their period (especially) they tend to be more lenient about what they consider attractive in a mate. Looks don't play too much of a role, rather status, personality, and other aspects carry more importance. Though this is just a trend, it's not true for everyone.
Personally, I tend not to be attracted to buff muscular men, or thug types. My tastes can vary quite a lot, I don't have a physical type. Of course, I am able to see the aesthetic attraction in certain individuals but I don't place any merit on a person simply due to their looks. I can acknowledge they're attractive, and even possibly be attracted to them but personality seems to trump for me, in that regard. For me there is a difference between aesthetic attraction, sexual attraction, and mental attraction. I can be mentally attracted to someone I'm not aesthetically attracted to, I can be aesthetically attracted to someone I'm not sexually attracted to, and I can certainly be sexually attracted to someone I'm not aesthetically attracted to. I like to think I can find something attractive in most people, and my complete attraction to them grows as a result of that.
Keep in mind, the
mere exposure effect. The more we see something, whether it be a person, object, landscape, anything, the more we grow accustomed to it, and the more we tend to like it.
Of course, everyone has their kinks, and I am not exempt from that
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Originally Posted by ЛыSSый
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