Where do we get our notion of what is attractive?

[Fountain79]

Have you ever been talking to a friend and a member of whatever sex you find attractive walks by and your friend comments on how attractive that person put you can't imagine where they are getting that idea? Where does that notion of what is attractive to us come from? Take myself for example, my notion of what is attractive and my brother's notion of what is attractive is a bit different, and the same goes for my dad. It can't be purely cultural can it?

[datasuspect]

1. i personally think i am the template for attractiveness

it really is the chiseled buttcheeks that drives them crazy.

sometimes i feel so nice, i jump back and want to kiss myself.

[Dangerously Amused]

2. Peer pressure.

[SeattleGirl]

3. I don't think it's purely cultural.

I think some of it has to do with how our brains are wired, as in, what catches our eye? Our ears? Our tastebuds? I mean, I've seen men that I thought were stunningly good looking, and either my daugher or one of my sisters will go, "Huh? You think HE'S good looking?" And it works the other way around too. They may comment on someone, and think he's svery good looking, but I look and go, "Huh?" I don't know for certain, but I really do think part of it has to do with brain wiring.

I think another thing might be cultural or personal. For instance, if someone was mean to you, and you see someone who reminds you of that person, even if you MIGHT objective have found that person attractive, if your memory of that other person enters the scene, you just may not find the second person attractive. Does that make sense?

[Fountain79]

5. In a way I guess...

still this whole fascinates me, particularly I was thinking back to a conversation I was having with my father about a particular media personality, who I am not going to name here, who he found attractive and I thought he was crazy.

It's kind of like what some people view as fat. I always appreciate a girl with more curves than who is skinny, but for some men that's what they want.

[ZombieNixon]

4. The old boy down under?

:shrug: :evilgrin:

[sendero]

6. Genetics..

.. more specifically, genetic memory which is usually called "instinct" :)

[Robb]

7. Or the sum of unconsciously remembered experience

...also known as "instinct."

I've been able to decode some of that in my conscious mind. For example, whenever I start feeling the urge to date a redhead, the stab wounds in my back buzz slightly. :P

[sendero]

8. But I actually believe..

... that we inherit memories. How else does a cat know how to catch a bird?

Of course, our present life experiences add to the ongoing database :)

Never really had a redhead. Probably for the best :)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

9. Don't mother cats teach their kittens how to hunt?

[sendero]

10. Yes...

... but kittens that never knew a mother will still know how.

[mainegreen]

11. The percieved opposites of our parents.nt

[johnnie]

12. Why do some people like roses over tulips?

Why do we like anything? A little child might like the taste of lemons, and another might not like it as much. It isn't anything deep I think, it is just what each person digs.