PSY205: By the 1800s, the Most Attractive Males were Portly with Wide Waists: Social Psychology Essay, SUSS, Singapore

Question

“By the 1800s, the most attractive males were portly with wide waists and sturdy legs. In the late 1800s, an elite club was actually formed in Connecticut that only admitted men over 200 pounds.”

Extracted from Smith, R. M. (2018). The Biology of Beauty: The Science behind Human Attractiveness, p. 91.

Examining relevant theories and empirical evidence, discuss whether physical attractiveness is universal across time and space.

Additional notes/guidance/instructions:

• In order to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the relevant concepts/theories with respect to this question, you should first read the relevant sections in the textbook and course materials on this topic before you attempt your TMA. You will find Chapter 11 on “Attraction and Intimacy” useful as a starting point.
• The information in the textbook is limited and you will find it necessary to perform further literature research in order to add depth to your answers. Apart from doing this research, remember to use your own words in your essay to demonstrate an understanding of the subject matter and to avoid plagiarism.
• There must be citations of relevant theoretical and empirical evidence to support your arguments, with a minimum of 3 references listed accurately in APA format required for this paper. These references should be based on your additional research. That is, you shall cite at least THREE journal articles or published book chapters (excluding the textbook).
• Always cite credible sources of information. Blog entries, online student papers or theses, and websites like Wikipedia and Psych blog do not count