The Impact of Men’s Physical Characteristics on Mating Success, Self-Perception, and Social Status

Men’s physical characteristics, including height, body type, and penis size, have been associated with a variety of outcomes including mating success, self-perception, emotions of masculinity, income levels, consumer preferences, and bodily satisfaction, among others. Although there doesn’t seem to be a unanimous agreement on how men’s penis size affects women’s preferences or their level of sexual satisfaction, it is arguably very well-established that this particular trait serves as a prominent symbol of masculinity. Despite the fact that Freud’s (1925) concept of penis envy was intended to psychoanalytically proclaim female envy for the male reproductive organ, some studies have discovered symbolic support for penis envy even in men, with many men being concerned about their penis size, supporting the idea that size seems to matter.

Man in Suit

Man in Suit

Read Also: The Taller You Are the Higher the Risk of Getting Colorectal Cancer Study Shows

Size and status

In research involving more than 50,000 heterosexual men and women, only 55% of the males reported being happy with the size of their penis, while 85% of the women reported being happy with the size of their partner’s penis. However, a more recent survey indicated that 20% of women claimed to have left a relationship in part because the size of their partner’s penis didn’t meet their standards. Furthermore, it was shown that just 12% of men claimed to have a tiny penis, whereas approximately 9 out of 10 men self-reported having an average or large penis. Even with these figures, only 0.2% of males chose a smaller penis, while 45% still desired a larger penis.

Read Also: Male Enhancement: Men Risk Serious Injuries for the Sake of Penis Enlargement

Height and other physical traits that denote dominance, in addition to penis size, have been linked to men’s reproductive, professional, and financial success. In order to increase their chances of finding a partner, many men, therefore, misrepresent their height and athleticism on dating websites. The link between male stature and status, which appears to be more than metaphorical, is one plausible explanation for men’s desire to be tall and for women’s preference for men with an imposing stature and other formidable features. This relationship is supported by the fact that we tend to “look up to” tall people, as shown by their many advantages in life.

Read Also: Being Taller Than 5’7″ Raises Your Risk of Having Heart Problems

In other words, people also hold a “height halo,” in which tall people are portrayed and perceived more favorably as a function of their “altitude advantage.” This is similar to the “what is beautiful is good”-stereotype, which holds that physically attractive individuals are evaluated far more favorably even on traits and characteristics that have nothing to do with their looks. Similar to how occasionally importance is signaled by weight, it has been suggested that men may exaggerate their weight to convey masculinity, power, and potency.

Conclusion

The tendency for people to exhibit themselves in an ego-boosting manner is widespread. These days society determines what we are and what we can become. Careful self-evaluation and self-acceptance might prove useful to remedy the situation.

Read Also: How To Grow Taller With HGH, Limb Lengthening Surgery And Exercise

References

Smaller prize, bigger size? Exploring the impact of money on men’s self-reported markers of masculinity