Thursday 4 September 2008

Sexual Imprinting and Beauty Tips

I've been reading about the results of research carried out at the delightfully named University of Pecs, in Hungary. A survey of 67 Hungarian couples showed that the women all looked like their mothers in law, and the men all resembled their FILs. (See "Hot Moms and Sexual Imprinting")

They reckon that people use their parents' appearance as a yardstick when finding a partner. So a man's ideal woman is someone who looks like their mother. They're working all of this out scientifically by measuring things like the distance between their noses and their eyes, the length (and number?) of chins, etc.

Those of you who are married might be slightly disturbed to learn that your spouse chose you because he or she thinks you look just like your MIL/FIL, but these latest results add more weight to this theory.

I know some of you have a bit of a thing for Brad Pitt, despite my indisputible arguments about my superiority to him, so as a service to those readers, I have found the following photographs, which you might like to show to your cosmetic surgeon. This is what you're aiming to look like to be in with a chance:


For Jean Knee, here is Father Al's Mum:

So I don't need a crystal ball to know that Helena is going to marry someone good looking. Just a mirror...

27 comments:

Sully Sullivan said...

Yeah this is adding some fact to a long standing theory.

I don't know, most of my girlfriends have looked nothing like my mother. Then again, they're all exes.

Brian o vretanos said...

Sully:

"Some" being the operative word here - it's a small sample of Hungarians. I've no idea how their culture works - if parental approval of potential spouses is important, then parents are probably more likely to approve of those that look like them - it could have nothing to do with the children.

But as you say, this is a long standing theory, and they reckon they've observed it in (other) animals.

Maybe you should only date women that look like your mum. It sounds a bit dodgy though, when you look at it that way...

Unknown said...

That is a very disturbing thought ...

Bee said...

BRIAN! HOW ABOUT AN EMAIL TO YOUR #1 FAN????

Bee said...

I'm at lunch so I'll scold you better later.

Anndi said...

Don't Hungarians believe in inbreeding?

Bee said...

Brian, I can tell you with 100% certainty that I look NOTHING like my MIL.
So I have disproven (I don’t think it’s a word but it should be) their theory and they need to give me money for traumatic distress or something!

Andy looks nothing like my pops since Andy is taller, whiter, blue eyed, hair like Brad Pitt’s (when cut), long lashes, wide grin… he’s as close to Brad as I could come.

Also, if that’s Brad Pitt’s mom, how did that glorious creature come out of that troll??
Uh, no offense to my future MIL.

Brian o vretanos said...

Anndi:

I don't know - do they???

Bee:

It's your word against 134 Hungarians... Anyway, the point is not whether you think that you look like your MIL, but whether Andy does. You should try measuring the fullness of your lips, and the distance between your mouth and nose, and then do the same with your MIL. You might be surprised...

Bee said...

Brian. BRIAN. BRIAN!! You are going to make me e-mail you pictures.

We are from two completely different races. I’ve always thought all Hungarians looked alike so I’m not taking their word for it. I’m declaring war against Hungry!

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee:

So which of you looks like a constipated poodle ;-)

Don't worry, it's a rhetorical question.

Jean Knee said...

You know, I do have dark hair b ut as you know Father Al is already taken.

Didn't they also do a study that says pet owners begin to look like their dogs after awhile? Maybe you start out different but end up looking like the inlaw.

and doesn't it really all come down to how you smell to each other? mmm you smell good, we must have different genes so we can mate without worrying about accidentally marrying an unkown cousin

Jean Knee said...

and I forgot to add ELEVENTH

Bee said...

Okay, if I wound up looking like one of my dogs, which one would it be. Probably Mocha because she’s the mutt but I’m kinda ornery like Tazz…

Anonymous said...

Well, since I tend to prefer men who are dark skinned with dark hair, it's not very possible they'd look like my Daddy.

But, I've seen that study and it may have some merit.

Bee said...

This is what I conceded. Maybe ONE of the offspring will look for someone similar to their mother. My BIL went out with a girl THE SPITTIN’ IMAGE of my MIL. I have a picture of her from the sixties on a frame and the two of them could have been sisters.
Okay, I feel better now.

You see what this post did to me? I’m a mess!

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

The way they were explaining it, it sounded like the smell thing was there to stop you accidentally mating with a relative because they looked like your father. Or something.

It's complicated by the fact that husbands and wives start to look like each other the longer they're married.

I'm surprised that humans don't all look identical to each other, and dogs...

Do dalmatian owners start getting spots? I suppose that's what happened to Cruella...

Bee:

Maybe you'll end up like a werewolf.

Catscratch:

Presumably the imprint thing is just one factor out of many...

Kevin McKeever said...

Boy, now I'm depressed.

Brian o vretanos said...

AHAU:

I'm sorry to hear this. I'll try and post something more uplifting and cheerful next time...

I bet it's all a load of bollocks anyway. No-one has yet admitted to resembling their in-laws in any way, shape, or form...

Brian o vretanos said...

In fact people seem to be happier about looking like their dogs ;-)

Dan said...

that is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard. Seems like you can find a study to prove anything.

for a different kind of girl said...

My MIL is short, and she wears men's jeans and decorated holiday sweatshirts all the time (even when it's not a holiday!!). I'm now suitably worried about my fate.

Brian o vretanos said...

Dan:

You may be right, but I think you're just scared...

FADKOG:

They were measuring facial characteristics. They didn't look at height or dress sense, so you might be okay.

Having said that, just because they didn't look, doesn't mean that you won't morph into a short woman dressed like a tourist...

Unknown said...

Let me get this clear. You're saying that my girlfriend will look like my mum? & I will look like her dad?

It's a good thing all my girlfriends have had stunning fathers.

Bee said...

Ha ha! I read Chris' comment as "stunning feathers!" cuz of my dixlicksic-ia

Unknown said...

Bee, if a woman doesn't have stunning feathers, I just don't look at her!

Bee said...

Well, that brings on a new meaning to "trolling for chicks".

kat said...

Yeah well now that you mention it it would explain why the hubby loves a readhead but ended with blondie. ROFL