Typically, men go to great lengths to become more attractive, by going to the gym, dieting, and working to constantly groom themselves. However, a recent study says that might be a bad idea, here’s why.
Most of us equate attractiveness to our desirability as a partner. If we don’t look as sexy as models or actors, we feel as though we are less than them. When in reality, our looks do not determine how good of a partner we are, according to researchers from Southern Methodist University and Florida State University.
For the purpose of the study, the researchers recruited 113 married couples from Texas that were in their late 20s. Those couples were then tasked with completing a survey about their desire to remain attractive and in shape. Additionally, they were rated by their evaluators on an attractive scale.
What they found was that “in instances where the man was less attractive, he was likely to compensate with acts of kindness like presents, intimate favors, or extra housework.” This need to compensate was tied to another pattern they saw, which was that the women who were paired with the less attractive men were happier and felt more appreciated by their partners. In turn, their relationships were stronger.
“The husbands seemed to be basically more committed, more invested in pleasing their wives when they felt that they were getting a pretty good deal,” the researchers wrote.
But, when the tables were turned, women who were with more attractive men showed results that alluded to the fact that being with a hot husband put immense pressure on them. In turn, they were far less happy, because they had to turn to an unhealthy obsession with eating and exercising.
“The results reveal that having a physically attractive husband may have negative consequences for wives, especially if those wives are not particularly attractive. The research suggests there might be social factors playing a role in women’s disordered eating.” explained lead researcher, Tania Reynolds.
So, if you are a man, and you feel like your wife is a 10, and you are a solid 7, it’s highly likely you are going to be a much better fit for pleasing your wife than say a woman who is a solid 7 who is paired with a 10.