According to previous research physical attractiveness plays an important role in our everyday life. People are treated differently on the basis of their physical appearance and from an evolutionary point of view physical attractiveness is a key factor in mate selection, being a cue of an individual's mate value and genetic qualities. Research shows that the highest attractiveness ratings tend to be given to physiques with a higher level of development of lean muscle mass and a V shaped upper body. Such a physique body constitution could indicates how a high level of physical fitness and a man's health of man and be a cue of the man's qualities as a mating partner. However, results of the previous studies are inconclusive due to the methods and stimuli employed. To address the shortcomings exhibited by the previous studies investigations, we ran two online studies. In the first study, women rated the attractiveness of a new and more extensive set of black and gray silhouettes derived from photos of the somatotypes. In the second study, we tested whether physical attractiveness of men can be increased by a voluntary change of their upper body shape. In both studies we were testing how interindividual differences of the female raters modulate the ratings of attractiveness. Results of the first study...

According to the State of the Nation’s Housing (Harvard, 2005) more than one in five homebuyers is a single woman and twice as many unmarried women as unmarried men are buying homes. Notably unmarried women make up more than one-third of the growth in real estate ownership since 1994. The purpose of this study was to examine this cultural phenomenon. Utilizing an interpretative qualitative paradigm, in-depth interviews, social identity and reason action theories, this research explored the social, psychological, and symbolic meanings single, never-married, women in their 30s and 40s attributed to home buying as well as the design and purchasing behaviors they displayed. In an effort to create and refine the questionnaire for this research, a five participant pilot study was conducted in southwestern Virginia. The main body of this work consisted of 12 in-depth interviews and included six participants from southwestern Virginia, five participants from northern Virginia and one from western Pennsylvania. The average age of the participants was 39.5 years, with a range of 29 – 48 years. In total, 21 themes emerged in this study: 18 were strongly supported and mentioned by at least 50%, or six of the twelve, dissertation participants, while three received moderate support and were discussed by at least 25%, or three of the twelve, respondents. The themes were further divided into the following categories: behavioral themes which answer the question of the how women approach the buying process; behavioral themes which answer the question of what women buy, psychological themes which answer the question of why single women buy; social themes which promote a sense of security or stability; and social themes which promote a sense of isolation. The findings of this study can be used to enhance the residential construction industry and to assist housing professionals who routinely interact with female homebuyers. In addition, these findings suggest the continued need for home-buyer education and further research. / Ph. D.