The perceived attractiveness of men to women is indeed influenced by penis size. This same characteristic also causes males to view other men as potentially more threatening. This conclusion was reached by a research team from the University of Western Australia after surveying over 800 participants. The study was published in the journal PLOS Biology.
The investigation involved more than 600 men and approximately 200 women. Volunteers were shown computer-generated images of male figures that varied in terms of height, body shape, and penis size. The women were tasked with rating the sexual appeal of the figures, while the men assessed how menacing the depicted characters appeared as potential sexual rivals.
The experiment was carried out both in person, using life-sized images, and online, employing scaled models. The findings remained consistent across both methodologies.
Women tended to find taller men with a distinct V-shaped physique (broad shoulders and narrow hips) and a larger penis size more appealing. Conversely, men perceived such physiques as indicative of more dangerous competitors.
The paper’s authors suggest that these new findings offer a fresh perspective on the evolutionary importance of this particular trait. While the fundamental biological role of the penis remains reproduction, an increased size has taken on the function of a kind of “sexual ornamentation.”
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