For years we’ve heard the old adage that “size matters.” And according to a new study, it turns out that it really does, but maybe not for the reasons—or to the people—you expected.
A new study published in PLOS, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, revealed the results of a study titled, “Human penis size influences female attraction and male assessment of rivals.”
More than 800 individuals—600 males and 200 females—took part in the study, where they were asked to look at a variety of computer-generated male figures in a variety of different height, shape, and penis size configurations and rate them in a variety of ways. For women, it was mainly a test of sexual attraction. The male participants, however, were asked about how threatening the figures seemed—both in terms of squaring off in a physical fight or a sexual rivalry.
According to the results, “Females rated male figures that were taller, had a higher shoulder-to-hip ratio (indicating a more V-shaped body), and a larger penis as being more attractive. However, beyond a certain point, further increases in penis size, height, and shoulder breadth had diminishing benefits.”
The males’ responses somewhat echoed the female subjects in that “Males also rated taller figures that had a more V-shaped body and a larger penis as being more intimidating as sexual rivals and fighting opponents.”
There was one significant area where male and females differed, however: “[I]n contrast to female participants, [men] consistently ranked males with more exaggerated traits as more of a sexual threat, suggesting that males tend to overestimate the importance of these characteristics for attracting females.”
In summarizing the results, study co-author Michael D. Jennions said, “While the human penis functions primarily to transfer sperm, our result suggests its unusual large size evolved as a sexual ornament to attract females rather than purely as a badge of status to scare males, although it does both.”
Now you know—straight from the scientists’ mouth.
