An assessment of the mating motive explanation of the beauty premium in market-based settings

Behav Brain Sci. 2017 Jan:40:e39. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X16000601.

Abstract

Labor market and real-life studies were not designed to discriminate between evolutionary and taste-based and stereotype explanations for the beauty premium, have too many confounding effects, and lack crucial information. Smaller-stake and experimental studies provide more compelling evidence in favor of mating motives and suggest the direction of future research for the economists' field studies.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Beauty*
  • Bias
  • Biological Evolution
  • Motivation
  • Psychology, Social*