Influence of sexual orientation, population, homogamy, and imprinting-like effect on preferences and choices for female buttock size, breast size and shape, and WHR

Secondary sexual characteristics that are consistently noticed by individuals of the opposite sex (e.g., female breasts) have been shown to be linked to individual qualities, such as health and/or fertility. However, it is not clear whether homosexual individuals seek similar traits in their potential partners as their heterosexual counterparts. Here we investigated preferences and choices for female buttock size, breast size and shape, and WHR among non-heterosexual women and heterosexual men in two diverse populations, Brazil and the Czech Republic. On average, participants mostly preferred younger-looking female breasts, medium to bigger buttock and breast size, and WHR of 0.7. However, men preferred bigger buttocks and breasts, and smaller WHR than women. Possibly, non-heterosexual women have lower motivation to search for indicators of fecundity and fertility in their potential female partners. Further, Brazilians preferred larger breasts and buttocks than Czechs, although there was no difference in preferred breast shape and WHR. We also found evidence for preferred homogamy and an imprinting-like effect among men and women. In general, preferences differed from actual choices. In sum, personal experience (imprinting-like effect), own characteristics (own physical traits, sexual orientation) and external factors (population) can calibrate individual differences in preferences for specific physical traits.