What Is Physical Attraction?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Physical Attraction Is ImportantFactors That Contribute to Physical AttractionSigns of Physical AttractionPhysical Attraction and Relationships

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Why Physical Attraction Is Important

Factors That Contribute to Physical Attraction

Signs of Physical Attraction

Physical Attraction and Relationships

Close

Physical attraction refers to the fact that an individual finds another person appealing, saysSabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University. “It is a physical energy that is the result of the chemistry between two people.”

Physicalattractionis often instant, and it can contribute to feelings of excitement, increased energy levels, and a craving for physical connection upon seeing someone for the first time. Instant physical attraction and the ensuing emotional response contribute to what people call “love at first sight.”

At a GlancePhysical attraction is often the spark that inspires a connection between people. Many factors can play a role, including facial features, physical dimensions, facial expressions, and non-visual cues. Evolutionary and sociocultural factors also play a part.If you think someone is attracted to you (or vice versa), you might notice more smiling, eye contact, nervousness, and excitement when you are around them.While physical attraction can draw you together, other factors also play an important role in building lasting bonds.

At a Glance

Physical attraction is often the spark that inspires a connection between people. Many factors can play a role, including facial features, physical dimensions, facial expressions, and non-visual cues. Evolutionary and sociocultural factors also play a part.If you think someone is attracted to you (or vice versa), you might notice more smiling, eye contact, nervousness, and excitement when you are around them.While physical attraction can draw you together, other factors also play an important role in building lasting bonds.

Physical attraction is often the spark that inspires a connection between people. Many factors can play a role, including facial features, physical dimensions, facial expressions, and non-visual cues. Evolutionary and sociocultural factors also play a part.

If you think someone is attracted to you (or vice versa), you might notice more smiling, eye contact, nervousness, and excitement when you are around them.

While physical attraction can draw you together, other factors also play an important role in building lasting bonds.

Physical attraction is often the first thing to grab our interest when we are looking for potential partners. For example, when you’re scrolling through profiles on adating app, the first thing you probably look at is the person’s picture.

If they seem attractive to you at first glance, you may explore their profile further and then decide whether you want to communicate with them; however, if their picture doesn’t pique your interest in that split second, you probably move on to the next one.

Similarly, when you enter a room, such as a restaurant, bar, office, or conference room, you probably do a quick scan of the room. If someone seems physically attractive to you, your eyes may linger on them, or keep going back to them, and you may find yourself interested in what they’re doing or saying.

That initial physical attraction is often what grabs our interest so that we feel inspired to get to know the other person more.

How to Use the ‘Marilyn Monroe Effect’ to Exude Confidence

These are some of the factors that play a role in physical attractiveness:

Mere Exposure Effect: How Familiarity Breeds Attraction

Evolutionary Factors

Evolutionary psychologyhas a controversial theory about physical attractiveness.It suggests that since physical attractiveness helps people attract mates, evolutionary factors play a role in what people consider attractive.

Evolutionary psychology studies note that certain physical features and dimensions are considered physically attractive since those are desirable qualities in a mate from a biological and reproductive standpoint. Such characteristics include:

For instance, evolutionary psychology studies conclude that a body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) within a particular range of those scales may be considered more attractive than a BMI or WHR outside those ranges.

According to evolutionary researchers, this is because having too muchbody fatis associated with negative health outcomes such as heart disease, diabetes, and restricted movement, whereas not having enough muscle and body fat is linked to a lack of strength and reduced fertility and child-bearing ability.

However, there is not always a correlation between what is the healthiest physiologically speaking and what people find the most attractive. Furthermore, BMI is a dated, biased measure that doesn’t account for several factors, such as body composition, ethnicity, race, gender, and age.

Sociocultural Factors

Factors such as society, culture, and historical period can also play a role in determining what’s considered attractive and unattractive.In other words, if a culture favors certain body types over others, these preferences can affect individuals.

People may internalize these standards and pursue them, sometimes to their health or well-being detriment.

For instance, they may pursue a BMI that is below what is considered healthy, to meetsociocultural standards of size.

One study found that participants perceived women with low and physiologically unhealthy BMIs as more attractive compared to women with healthy BMIs.Another study found that participants from urban areas thought images of women with lower BMIs were more attractive compared to participants from rural areas who felt women with higher BMIs were more attractive.

Weight stigmaand the thin ideal can play a role in determining what people view as attractive and unattractive regardless of what is physiologically healthy.

“Attraction also activates the orbitofrontal cortex of the brain, which is the part of your brain that processes sensory rewards,” Romanoff explains. These physiological changes can trigger emotional and behavioral changes.

These are some of the signs of physical attraction, according to Romanoff:

What Happens When We Feel Romantic Chemistry, and How Much Does It Matter?

Physical attraction is an important component in romanticrelationships. It is often the starting point of relationships, helping people connect with each other and build an emotional attachment.

Sabrina Romanoff, PsyDPhysical attraction is important because it leads to greater physical intimacy and connection, helping partners feel more bonded and attached to each other.

Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD

Physical attraction is important because it leads to greater physical intimacy and connection, helping partners feel more bonded and attached to each other.

Physical attraction also helps people maintain relationships. According to a 2015 study, being physically attracted to one’s partner is linked to greater marriage satisfaction and longevity.

However,healthy relationshipsshouldn’t be based on physical attraction alone. Couples should have a strong and widespread foundation for their relationship—this includes an alignment ofvalues, goals, and priorities, says Romanoff.

“If partners are not connected in these other realms, their physical attraction might not be able to sustain a more serious relationship,” she explains.

What This Means For YouPhysical attraction is often a primal, instinctive reaction to another person, based on factors such as their appearance, expressions, voice, and scent. While physical attraction is one aspect of being in a relationship, it is also important to consider and build upon shared values such astrust, compassion, respect, and honesty.

What This Means For You

Physical attraction is often a primal, instinctive reaction to another person, based on factors such as their appearance, expressions, voice, and scent. While physical attraction is one aspect of being in a relationship, it is also important to consider and build upon shared values such astrust, compassion, respect, and honesty.

My Partner Doesn’t Find Me Attractive Anymore

14 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Grant-Jacob JA.Love at first sight.Front Psychol. 2016;7:1113. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01113

Seidman G, Miller OS.Effects of gender and physical attractiveness on visual attention to Facebook profiles.Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2013;16(1):20-24. doi:10.1089/cyber.2012.0305

Muñoz-Reyes JA, Iglesias-Julios M, Pita M, Turiegano E.Facial features: what women perceive as attractive and what men consider attractive.PLoS One. 2015;10(7):e0132979. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0132979

Garza R, Heredia RR, Cieslicka AB.Male and female perception of physical attractiveness: an eye movement study.Evol Psychol. 2016;14(1):147470491663161. doi:10.1177/1474704916631614

Horn S, Matuszewska N, Gkantidis N, Verna C, Kanavakis G.Smile dimensions affect self-perceived smile attractiveness.Sci Rep. 2021;11:2779. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-82478-9

Groyecka A, Pisanski K, Sorokowska A, et al.Attractiveness is multimodal: beauty is also in the nose and ear of the beholder.Front Psychol. 2017;0. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00778

Ward A, English T, Chin M.Physical attractiveness predicts endorsement of specific evolutionary psychology principles.PLoS One. 2021;16(8):e0254725. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0254725

Lassek WD, Gaulin SJC.Do the low whrs and bmis judged most attractive indicate higher fertility?Evol Psychol. 2018;16(4):147470491880006. doi:10.1177%2F1474704918800063

Maymone MBC, Neamah HH, Secemsky EA, Kundu RV, Saade D, Vashi NA.The most beautiful people.JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(12):1327-1329. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.3693

Brierley ME, Brooks KR, Mond J,Stevenson RJ, Stephen ID. The body and the beautiful: Health, attractiveness and body composition in men’s and women’s bodies.PLoS One. 2016;11(6):e0156722. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156722

Swami, V. and Tovee, M.J. 2005.Female physical attractiveness in Britain and Malaysia: a cross-cultural study.Body Image.2(2):115-128.doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2005.02.002

Bolmont M, Cacioppo JT, Cacioppo S.Love is in the gaze: an eye-tracking study of love and sexual desire.Psychol Sci. 2014;25(9):1748-1756. doi:10.1177/0956797614539706

Meltzer AL, McNulty JK, Jackson G, Karney BR.Sex differences in the implications of partner physical attractiveness for the trajectory of marital satisfaction.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2014;106(3):418-428. doi:10.1037/a0034424

Brierley ME, Brooks KR, Mond J, Stevenson RJ, Stephen ID.The body and the beautiful: health, attractiveness and body composition in men’s and women’s bodies.PLoS One. 2016;11(6):e0156722. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156722

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?