Contrary to the belief that "size doesn't matter," a study found that 27% of women reported having broken up with a man, at least in part, because of his penis size. The vast majority of these cases were due to the man being too small.
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Contrary to the "get it out of your system" theory, a higher number of past sexual partners is a strong predictor of future relationship instability. For both men and women, it correlates with higher rates of divorce, cheating, and lower satisfaction in long-term relationships.
Women's desire for safety is an emotional state tied to connection and feeling protected, which they constantly monitor. In contrast, men pursue security, which is a fact-based assessment of their resources, status, and control over their environment. This fundamental difference in needs often leads to misunderstandings.
Research indicates women's ideal male body fat percentage is around 13-15%, which is lean but not "shredded." This contrasts with the bodybuilding ideal of sub-10% body fat, suggesting men's aesthetic goals are misaligned with female preferences.
Research using 3D models shows women prefer a penis size (6.3 inches) that falls in the 95th percentile of men. This ideal is larger than what most women have ever encountered, creating a mismatch between preference and reality.
A study found that men’s real-world sexual success was highly correlated with how intimidating other men found them, not by how attractive women rated them. This suggests female mate choice is less about direct selection and more about passively choosing the victors of intra-male competition, validating a 'male competition theory' of attraction.