A person's height plays an important role not only in fashion and sports but also in romantic relationships. A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology showed that men more often choose women shorter than themselves, especially for short-term relationships. Women, on the other hand, remain more consistent — they prefer men taller than themselves regardless of the type of relationship.
Scientists explain this through evolutionary mechanisms: height is associated with physical health, social status, and genetic strength. Taller men and women tend to live longer on average and are more successful in social and romantic spheres.
Key findings of the study:
- Women choose men taller than themselves — about 2.3 cm taller than the average height of men in their country.
- Men prefer women shorter than themselves — about 2.5 cm shorter than the average height of women in the country.
- Taller men are more likely to choose shorter women for short-term relationships than for long-term ones.
- The preference for partners of similar height is more pronounced among men and depends on the type of relationship.
The study has limitations — participants assessed height based on drawings rather than real interactions, so actual meetings may yield slightly different results.
Nevertheless, the work helps to understand how height and evolutionary mechanisms influence partner choice. It remains important that genuine chemistry between people is always unique and does not adhere to strict rules.
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