Abstract

MEDON, Alexandra; GONCALVES, Laura; AMORIM, Maria  and  COELHO, Hugo. Physical exercise, female preference in corporal dimensions in men: A comparative study on eye-tracking. PsychTech [online]. 2020, vol.4, n.1, pp.49-63.  Epub Sep 29, 2021. ISSN 2184-1004.  https://doi.org/10.26580/pthj.art28-2020.

This study’s main goal was to understand if there is a relationship between being in a love relationship, body satisfaction, physical exercise, and the level of and ocular movement. This study included 30 university students, all female, aged between 18 and 29 years [M = 20.60 and SD = 2.69]. The present study is cross-sectional, quantitative, comparative, and with a quasi-experimental design, carried out in a laboratory context. Six manipulated images to accentuate muscularity were presented to participants. The SMI RED250 eye-tracker system was used to measure the time of fixations. A MANOVA (a 2x2 factorial design) was performed to identify the differences between the selected independent variables. Results showed that both being in a relationship and body satisfaction impacted the first and time spent on fixation. Body satisfaction presented higher effects. Comparison by being in relationship and body preference showed higher scores on the abdomen and thigh. In the relationship between body satisfaction and first fixation, the penis, abdomen and thigh were preferred. Comparison by the level of physical exercise showed the penis was the area of preference with a strong effect. In conclusion, love relationships, the level of body satisfaction, and the practice of physical exercise are variables that influence the ocular movement and that women preference regarding the chest of the male body.

Keywords : attractiveness; eye movement; eye-tracking; love relationship; body satisfaction; physical exercise.

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