# Physical Attraction Poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 22, 2002, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257 "2002-05-22T06:13:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jenner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@Jenner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenner)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/1 "2002-05-22T06:13:07Z")
Hi all! 🙂 1. When you’re romantically attracted to a person, how much does physical appearance factor into that attraction? Please give a rough percentage, e.g. 50%. 2. as looks go, how important is the face compared to the rest of the body? Again, give a rough percentage. 3. What is your age and gender? (optional) Thanks. Please feel free to expound on your answers. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/2 "2002-05-22T06:17:33Z")
On some occasions, physical “good looks” had nothing to do with the attraction. For example, humor was paramount – once. ---
**Author:** ![Ooner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@Ooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ooner)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/3 "2002-05-22T06:30:12Z")
1. 70% Right off the bat, first appearances determine attraction. After I get to know someone, appearance is less important, but still a major factor. I have difficulty getting past being really unattracted to someone physically, even if they have a great personality. 1. 90% I only see the body when the clothes are off. Body obsession is really silly, and unless someone has a **really** bad figure, I can’t see that being much of a factor at all. The face, on the other hand, is something I look at all the time, and really shows personality and such. 1. 18/m ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/4 "2002-05-22T07:10:29Z")
1. 50% I’ve been majorly attracted to men that others would consider extremely physically unattractive. I also meet a lot of attractive guys with major egos, too, and that turns me right off. 1. 90% I agree with **Ooner**. If you’re obsessed that much with bodies, then you’re going to be majorly disappointed when said body starts to age. ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/5 "2002-05-22T07:29:45Z")
1. 75%. Yeah, I’m shallow–but then, what I consider physical attractiveness includes grooming and style. 2. 50% 3. Female, 41, my boyfriend is 25. ---
**Author:** ![kitarak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kitarak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitarak)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/6 "2002-05-22T07:32:49Z")
1. Maybe 30%. In general looks take a distant second place over personality, but if someone is particularily unattractive it puts me off. 2. 75% 3. 19/m ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/7 "2002-05-22T07:34:27Z")
1. Met my wife on the internet so in that case it was a meeting of the minds 100% first. Looks are important though and in general I will make conversation with someone who is plain but interesting, I will make intense conversation with someone who is pretty and interesting, I won’t bother with someone who is pretty but boring/disagreeable. Short answer: 50% 1. 80% 2. 27/m ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/8 "2002-05-22T09:33:19Z")
Physical attractiveness ranks about 100%. The face being 95% Of course, it’s an entirely subjective standard. I have found some women more attractive after getting to know them. Meaning my attraction to them affects my perception of their beauty. I’m 37. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/9 "2002-05-22T09:51:38Z")
1. 60-70% 2. 60%. Most of the good looking guys I’ve seen also have nice bodies though. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any guy I know who is good looking, but has an unattractive body. 19/f ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/10 "2002-05-22T11:22:24Z")
1.) 90% I can work around the rest. 2.) Women have faces? 3.)31 male of course… ---
**Author:** ![Venoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@Venoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venoma)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/11 "2002-05-22T11:51:23Z")
1. about 50-60% 2. about 50-60%. A hard body turns me on! But is not absolutely necessary (although I appreciate someone who is willing to work at it) 3. 21/female ---
**Author:** ![sghoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@sghoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sghoul)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/12 "2002-05-22T11:59:08Z")
1. 100% I have never been romatically attracted to someone I didn’t find physically attractive. Mind you, this doesn’t mean that they have to be some super model. Also, as I get to know someone more, they tend to become more attractive physically. 2. 90-100% As others have said, the face is the part you deal with the most. 3. 27/M ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/13 "2002-05-22T13:08:46Z")
Ooh - a toughy. Physical appearance is about 75% for me, but I need to qualify that: My extra senses tell me something about a woman’s personality when I detect her physical appearance and the nuances associated with it. For example, hair styles are very much an appearance issue, but I can get a taste of the woman’s persona from seeing her hair…or how much makeup she uses…or how she carries herself…or her smile… While talking does key us into the remaining parts of her personality, alot of her physical appearance is based on her persona. I know 'bombshell" types that are absolutely unnactractive to me because of how they carry themselves or primp themselves. So, while I would say 75% is physical…alot of the physical appearance is a manifestation of one’s personality. Occasionally, a plain Jane modest looking woman will get my juices flowing because she takes the 25% and makes it work. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/14 "2002-05-22T13:13:19Z")
Oh, I am a 34 year old male. ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/15 "2002-05-22T13:51:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Devilman Palmer \* > \*\*1) When you’re romantically attracted to a person, how much does physical appearance factor into that attraction? Please give a rough percentage, e.g. 50%. \*\* 99% for me. I have to be attracted to their physical appearance before I can try to get to know them. No matter how wonderful their personality is, if I’m not physically attracted to them I’m not going to be in a relationship with them. > [@](#): > > \*\*2) as looks go, how important is the face compared to the rest of the body? Again, give a rough percentage. \*\* Again, 99%. Hopefully their body is just as appealing as their face. I’ve yet to meet someone whose face is attractive and body is grotesque. I find muscular/athletic builds to be very sexy compared to skinny guys so that’s the type of guy I usually go for but the face is a little more important than the body. > [@](#): > > \*\*3) What is your age and gender? (optional) \*\* 27/female ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/16 "2002-05-22T17:50:17Z")
1. I think there’s a difference between “physically attracted” and “romantically attracted”; the former is much more dependent on appearances than the latter. I also agree that once you become romantically attracted to someone (based on their personality, sense of humor, quality of character, or the company they keep with you), then they become more physically attractive than you might have thought otherwise. Similarly, women who may have “conventional” beauty may not seem attractive at all depending on what they’re actually like. I have never been romantically involved with someone I didn’t find extremely attractive physically, which either makes me very open-minded or simply lucky. 😛 Sorry, don’t know how to quantify that answer into a percentage. 2. I’d say the face is probably at least 90% of what makes a woman physically attractive to me. The body usually doesn’t play much of a part at all, outside of someone demonstrably unhealthy-looking (anorexic/obese). Compatability might be an issue (too short, too tall relative to me) but it’s never come up so I can’t be certain. 3. 31, Male ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/17 "2002-05-22T18:07:56Z")
I’d say 4%. One of these days I swear I’m gonna go forth and try to get involved with someone based on what she looks like, just to see what that’s like. The face=somewhere around 40% unless you’re including things like facial _expressions_, but that’s really more of a window into the person underneath so I’m not counting that. 43, male. ---
**Author:** ![Reinhold\_Messner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Reinhold\_Messner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reinhold_Messner)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/18 "2002-05-22T18:32:59Z")
1. I would say about 30%. Possibly less. 2. The face in general isn’t as important as eyes and hair. Both of those are huge items for me, particularly the eyes. 3. 26, male. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/19 "2002-05-22T19:09:56Z")
1. 35%. How well I get along with the other person/depth of our conversations is more important that what they look like. If I enjoy being around someone, how they look isn’t as important, nor do I care what other people think of me for being around an individual most other people would find unattractive. 2.) 35% A great body is a definite plus, but frankly I consider it a pretty low prioirty in comparison to other things. Intimacy doesn’t need to be achieved through beauty; I feel it lies more in two people being comfortable with each other. 1. 21/male ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257/20 "2002-05-22T19:22:15Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. When you’re romantically attracted to a person, how much does physical appearance factor into that attraction? Please give a rough percentage, e.g. 50%. It’s hard to put a percentage on that. I have to be physically attracted first before I can be romantically attracted, yet I’m not turned on by someone who’s good-looking but vapid. That is, I can be sexually turned on by someone who is not conventionally handsome, and he has to have something on the ball intellectually for me to remain interested. I’ll say 50 percent. > [@](#): > > 1. as looks go, how important is the face compared to the rest of the body? Again, give a rough percentage. Maybe 10 percent. I find a man’s body and overall masculinity to much more of a turnon than his face. In fact, I find myself more attracted to rough-hewn men like Henry Rollins than I am to pretty boys like Brad Pitt. > [@](#): > > 1. What is your age and gender? (optional) I’m a 40-year-old gay male [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-attraction-poll/110257.md?page=2)