A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology has revealed intriguing insights into how height shapes romantic preferences — and the results show some surprising patterns.
According to the research, men generally prefer shorter women for short-term relationships, while women consistently favor taller men, regardless of whether they’re looking for something casual or long-term.
The study surveyed 536 participants from Canada, Cuba, Norway, and the United States. Participants were shown simple, minimalist illustrations of individuals with varying heights and asked to choose their ideal partner height for both casual flings and committed relationships.
Here’s what they found:
- Men preferred women who were, on average, 2.5 cm shorter than the average female height in their country.
- Women preferred men who were 2.3 cm taller than the average male height.
- Taller individuals tended to choose taller partners — a pattern known as assortative mating.
Interestingly, men’s preferences shifted based on relationship type. For short-term encounters, they preferred women who were even shorter than those they’d choose for long-term relationships. This suggests that physical preferences may subtly change based on emotional or commitment factors.
While the findings offer valuable psychological and sociocultural insights, the researchers caution that the use of simplified drawings and labeled heights may not capture the full complexity of real-life attraction. Still, the study highlights the subtle ways that both biology and culture shape our romantic ideals.