title: Are preferences for legs length universal? Data from a semi-nomadic Himba population from Namibia.
abstract: Leg-to-body ratio (LBR) is one of the morphological traits that influences a person's attractiveness. To date, studies confirming that hypothesis have been conducted mainly in Western cultures. They have shown that the average or slightly higher-than-the-average LBR is perceived to be attractive in women. In the case of men, results were more ambiguous; however generally shorter or similar LBRs compared to females were attractive. Here, data on LBR preferences of a traditional, semi-nomad ethnic group (i.e., the Himba of northern Namibia, n = 81) are reported. Also in Himba people LBR influences a person's attractiveness. Similar to Western societies, extremely high and low LBRs were unattractive. However, contrary to previous findings, Himba preferred women of relatively low LBR and men of relatively high LBR.
authors.affiliation: University of Wroclaw, Institute of Psychology, Wroclaw, Poland. sorokowskipiotr@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sorokowski
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorokowska
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mberira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001504:Beauty; D001827:Body Height; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009276:Namibia / Q000208:ethnology; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult