Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue (한국심리학회지 : 문화 및 사회문제)

Korean Psychological Association of Culture and Social Issues (한국문화및사회문제심리학회)
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Examination of Standards of Physical Attractiveness: With focusing on WHR and Golden Ratio

신체적 매력의 기준에 대한 검증: WHR과 황금비를 중심으로

  • Inhae, Baek (The Social Innovation Convergence Program, Sungkyunkwan University) ;
  • Taeyun, Jung (Department of Psychology, Chung-Ang University)
  • 백인해 (성균관대학교 소셜이노베이션융합 전공) ;
  • 정태연 (중앙대학교 심리학과)
  • Received : 2022.09.25
  • Accepted : 2022.11.18
  • Published : 2022.11.30
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Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the validity of WHR (or waist-to-hip ratio) and Golden ratio as standards of physical attractiveness. Each of 60 male and 60 female college students were divided into two groups of 30. Using the 3D game program, each person in one group drew a physically attractive figure of the opposite sex while the other group drew a physically attractive figure of the same sex. Then, WHR and Golden ratio of the figures were measured and compared with the ideal WHR (.7 for women and .9 for men) and Golden ratio 1.618. It was found that WHR and Golden ratio for the physically attractive figures were lower than the ideal standards regardless of the participant's gender. That is, the participants preferred to men and women having curvaceous body shapes with a narrow waist and a wide pelvis. In most cases, Golden ratios measured in many ways were not correspondent to the ideal ratio, 1.618. In regards to BR (or Body Ratio), the legs and waist of the physically attractive figures were shorter relative to the Golden ratio and this was more salient for physically attractive man figures. Regarding the facial ratio measured by FR(or facial ratio) and FR_VP(or facial ratio_vertical point), the faces of figures made by participants, regardless of their sex, were shorter and wider compared to the Golden ratio. Further, the participants preferred baby-faced woman and masculine man figures. Finally, implications of the findings, limitations the of the present study, and the suggestions for future research were discussed.

이 연구의 목적은 신체적 매력의 기준인 WHR(waist-to-hip ratio)과 황금비가 타당한지를 검증하는 것이었다. 이를 위해 대학생 남자 60명과 여자 60명을 각각 같은 수의 두 집단으로 나눈 다음, 3D 게임 프로그램을 이용하여 한 집단은 자신이 생각하는 이성, 다른 집단은 자신이 생각하는 동성의 이상형을 구현하도록 했다. 이렇게 구현한 이상형의 WHR과 황금비를 측정하여, 신체적 매력의 기준인 WHR(여성: .7, 남성: .9) 및 황금비(혹은 1.618)와 비교하였다. 그 결과, 참가자의 이상형은 그들의 성별에 상관없이 여성과 남성의 WHR을 매력의 기준치보다 낮게 구현했다. 즉, 참가자들은 남성과 여성의 몸매가 허리가 얇고 골반이 넓은 굴곡진 체형을 선호하는 것으로 나타났다. 다양한 방식으로 측정한 황금비의 경우에도 참가자들이 만든 이상형은 이론적인 비율과 거의 대부분 측정치에서 큰 차이가 있었다. BR(body ratio) 점수로 측정한 신체 비율을 보면, 참가자들은 매력적인 캐릭터를 황금비보다 다리를 짧고 허리도 짧게 묘사했으며, 특히 이상적인 남성이 이러한 특성을 더 많이 가지고 있었다. FR(facial ratio)과 FR_VP(facial ratio_vertical point)로 측정한 얼굴 비율에서 참가자들이 만든 매력적인 얼굴 형태는 참가자나 캐릭터의 성별과 관계없이 모두 황금비보다 얼굴이 짧고 넓은 단방형 얼굴의 남녀를 선호했다. 참가자들은 여자 캐릭터 얼굴로 하부 대비 상부가 넓은 동안(baby face)을 선호했고, 남자 캐릭터의 얼굴로 상부 대비 하부가 넓은 남성적 얼굴형을 선호했다. 마지막으로, 이러한 연구 결과의 의미와 함께, 이 연구의 한계점과 후속 연구를 위한 제언을 논의하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 논문은 2018년 대한민국 교육부와 한국연구재단의 지원을 받아 수행된 연구임 (NRF - 2018S1A5A2A01038779).

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