The Evolutionary View of Body Image Perception Across Cultures: A Comparative Analysis Between China and the U.S.
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This literature review explores the impact of evolutionary factors on body image perceptions across different cultures, focusing specifically on the comparative analysis between Chinese and American contexts. It examines the debate between evolutionary adaptations and cultural evolution byproducts in shaping body image ideals. Drawing on key studies, the review highlights the role of evolutionary psychology in explaining universal beauty cues, such as waist-to-hip ratio and facial symmetry, and how these traits influence mating preferences across cultures. It also discusses the influence of intrasexual competition on body image concerns, particularly the drive for thinness among women and height competition among men. Additionally, the review addresses the cultural evolution of body image preferences in China and the United States, tracing historical shifts and current trends influenced by media, social norms, and gender roles. Finally, the review identifies gaps in the existing literature, particularly the need for more research on male intrasexual competition and cross-cultural comparisons of body image preferences, and outlines a proposed study to further investigate these dynamics.
Authors: Yihan Liu, Cun Yu, Cheung Ning Ching, ChuenHo Zhang
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4408420107