Why do people say that men are ''biologically programmed'' to like something?

I think it's ridiculous, we are animals, yes, but we have excellent brains which allow us to have morals, opinions and a individual outlook on life, and our own preferences. Now I have heard things like, ''men are biologically programmed'' to prefer larger boobs or wider hips as it shows fertility.The men who seem to say this are the ones who do prefer bigger boobs.Why must they justify it by biological instincts?Maybe they just prefer bigger breasts visually, or they like the feel of them. Lots of men say they prefer smaller boobs, but then the men who prefer bigger boobs say that those men are lying because they don't want to offend women with smaller boobs. Do you think this is rubbish? Because I really do, I mean I don't prefer bigger penis's because there is ''more chance'' of conceiving.Nor am I attracted to muscles because it shows a ''strong and protective'' male. People seem to blame the biological aspects of preferences over so many things, why do you think this is?Even cheating is apparently human nature.
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I don't understand why people think they know what an entire population of males preferences are.It's rather funny, how you can think that all men think the same way as you do.And bloody ridiculous, as every single one of us is different.Everyone finds different things attractive, regardless of the biology tripe, it is shallow and narrow-minded to think that every man has the same preference for big boobs and wide hips.Men say they like different things,are they lying cos we are programmed?lol.
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Most Helpful Guys

  • Stereotypes!

    I generally dislike all sorts of people who generalize OR stereotypes (two different things it must be noted). I further dislike those who feel they need to fit within these stereotypes to achieve a certain target.

    For instance, girls starve to get skinny because 'men are biologically programmed' to want skinny girls. It's really pathetic, and to be honest, it kills your individuality when you don't accept the fact that you are beautiful and okay the way you are. It works the other way around too. People will force themselves to 'believe' these stereotypes just because they are so common.

    I personality don't want a wife who likes like a plastic Barbie doll (read: Megan Fox), and I don't care if 'men are biologically programmed' to want to fall in love with such women, I for once will not. But many people DO force themselves to associate their preferences to such stereotypes, as if it would make them more politically correct and less 'weird'.

    Likewise, its also gradually becoming an excuse for people to justify themselves. For instance if a guy is checking out a girl and his girlfriend snaps him back, he may say its in his 'genes' and he can't help it, and its likely he will get away with it. There are several intrinsic instincts, such as murdering someone we hate, but as superior beings we must be equally rational to realize it's wrong, and we need to take control over ourselves.

    So ultimately: yes, for me too, its bad bad bad in every way, for both sides and all respects.

    it's not just men who are 'genetically programmed' to do xyz by society's definitions, women and humans in general are supposedly programmed to feel a certain way, or do a certain thing too. It's ridiculous.

    Yes, there are several things mutual within us all, but it's important not to confine ourselves within such boundaries in fear of being abnormal, weird, or an outcast in case we feel otherwise. We are not 'obliged' to do embody the stereotypes.

    Thanks for posting this question

  • It's not entirely false. Studies have shown that men around the world seem to show remarkable consistency in their liking for certain features and characteristics (larger breasts, ~0.7 waist/hip ratio) despite coming from vastly different cultures. That said, that doesn't mean that there isn't an enormous variation in male preferences. I think people hugely underrate the impact of social conditioning on men's tastes as well.

    "Biological programming" is not rubbish, but it's not the whole story. Heredity is not destiny. We're not slaves. The rules can be bent and broken. Evolutionary psychology states men are drawn to signs of physical health and youth and yet many men like BBWs. These traits are more like guidelines than rules. They can be overridden.

    And finally you can't place too much faith in what people say they like. Sexual preferences are not in the realm of the conscious mind. Attempting to express them in words will always be imperfect. Attraction is an emotional response, you just FEEL it and your conscious, thinking mind can only rationalize it.

    And speaking of emotions, whenever you talk about love and sex, people's biases and baggage will always get thrown into the mix. Some guys feel guilty about liking big boobs and they want to give the opposite impression so as not to look like pigs, some guys care about girls' feelings but are poor communicators and hurt them anyway and some guys actually do prefer smaller breasts.

    And of course, some guys are just really stupid and don't know what they're talking about. If someone tries to convince you that he's smart enough to know what other men really like better than they do (which of, course, what he wants), he usually falls in this category.

    • Well, for me, I think it is ridiculous because I am not helplessly attracted to men who have bigger penis's, in fact I prefer smaller as it is more comfortable for me.Muscles do nothing for me, I prefer a man who is naturally big built.I am not attracted to men with money, status, cars or anything materialistic that women are ''genetically programmed'' to prefer.All of the things I mentioned are said to be what women look for in men, none apply to me, so I don't think it's true at all.

    • Like I said, genetics are far from the whole story. I believe socialization has at least an equal effect. If you think I'm arguing that people are helplessly attracted to certain characteristics, you misunderstand me. However, just because you don't feel like these principles affect you doesn't mean they don't exist. Evolutionary psychology is far more complex than "men like big boobs, women like big cocks". That is a vast oversimplification.

    • No, I don't think your arguing, sorry if I gave that impression, I see your point but I think it's far more to do with personal preferences nowadays, I don't think men specifically prefer a certain type of woman.Some might, but all men are different. I didn't say they don't exist, I just don't think they exist in my preferences, as mine have nothing to do with a man's ability to ''spread his seed'' or how well he protects, or what he's got to offer.

Most Helpful Girls

  • I really think it is rubbish. I think everyone has their preferences. Me, I am a bigger girl, I have big boobs wide hips, etc... I know people who think I am absolutely disgusting (men and women)! No matter what weight I am, I will always be overweight or obese in their eyes because I have big boobs and wide hips. But I don't focus on those people because that is just their preference and I can't do anything to change that.

    Everyone has what they like and don't like. I almost think it has to do with their upbringing. Some people come from families where a certain body type is the norm and that is what they pressure family members to be.

    Like they might comment on a girl who is naturally thin and think she needs to gain weight and eat because the rest of them are bigger with big boobs, wide hips, etc...While another family might constantly disapprove of a girl who looks like me and say that they need to stop eating, and start exercising to get a man. To me, this all comes down to personal preference and upbringing.

    There really is no one ideal body type for attractiveness. Everyone has their preferred things they like and things they dislike.

    The theory that men are programmed to like big boobs, wide hips, etc... is from the caveman days when people were at risk of dying from starvation. People had to hunt for their food for survival. Now a days, at least in the Western world, that isn't happening any more so people are able to have their own preferences.

    Look at statues of Venus both Venus De Milo and Venus of Willendorf, two very different body types but both were preferred at different times:

    Venus of Willendorf link

    Venus De Milo link

    I think that each decade has an 'ideal' but it constantly changes. Now that we have the internet, we can see that there are many different body types out there. So today, people's preferences are all over the place.

    • I really agree with you :) I think it is mostly down to cultural influences & upbringing.For example, my father was a big believer in natural beauty, he didn't like lots of makeup or artificial body parts, and that influenced my view of beauty, for both males and females.I don't like fake tan on males or females.I don't particularly like gelled up hair, I don't really like muscles, I prefer a man to be naturally broader built.For women, I believe their real beauty shows when they have no makeup.

    • I would say that your upbringing or culture largely determines what you are attracted to, or what is "acceptable"...to be attracted to. Instincts probably play a role, but it's an insignificant role when compared to your upbringing and your experiences that shape your idea of beauty.

    • Mm.Hit the nail on the head babe :)

  • for us it's not penis size that we're 'biologically programmed' to like...it's the V shape of a man. Broad shoulders and narrowing in at the waist and our biological program for that is physical prowess, athletic build for hunting/ protection/safety he can provide his young he might produce with us.

    I actually do believe it. I think it's instinctual.

  • I don't like big hips... or t*ts. I like attractive faces though!

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What Girls & Guys Said

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  • "Do you think this is rubbish?"

    Yes, for precisely your reasons: "we have excellent brains which allow us to have morals, opinions and a individual outlook on life, and our own preferences."

    • Thank you, simple honest, and intelligent answer, and coming from a man too :)

  • I do believe in biological instincts, but when it comes to attraction it's just personal preference. If a guy likes smaller boobs he is not denying his biological instincts or trying to be nice. That's ridiculous. A guy who says that is just rationalizing someone else's behavior based on his own personal reality, which is a mistake. Individuals have significantly different perceptions and preferences. I do think that, instinctually, women look for a safe, committed relationship, and guys, especially when you're young, look more for just sex. This doesn't go for every individual, but in general this tends to be true. If it is agreed upon that you are in a committed relationship with a woman, blaming the fact that you cheat on her because of your biological intincts and that it's not your fault is ridiculous. Again, I do believe in intincts, but they are not an excuse for unethical behavior.

    • Thank you, amazing answer, hit the nail right on the head :) I'm glad that there are men that are sensible and intelligent, as you can see, some answers are pretty stupid, as a lot tend to generalize the whole population of men.lol.

    • Thanks.

  • Biological imperatives drive a lot of human nature.

    Some of those things can be overridden by reason but not all.

    I mean, you can say men are biologically programmed to prefer big breasts. But some men prefer small breasts. (I'm one.) The reasons for that may be long and complex, but I'm pretty sure they aren't rooted in my biology or DNA. It's far more likely that it has to do with the fact that some of the girls I've liked most in my life, happened to have shared that in common. And I've imprinted on a particular physical type of girl as being a source of happiness. But I didn't sit down one day and reason myself out of liking big breasts.

    I know men are biologically programmed to seek out sex with multiple women. I also know that a steady monogamish relationship is a more rewarding life style, particularly if I want children of my own. My sense of reason can override my biological urges in that case. But I could easily imagine a guy with poorly developed reasoning skills is more likely to f*** around on his partner. And in such cases, I would lay the blame on biology, yeah.

    • But EXPERIENCE the litmus test when it comes to all these things? if I abuse narcotics, due to my, yes biologically programmed instinct to enjoy pleasure and tranquility, I may get hooked to them. But having said that isn't it unfair to assume I'm biologically programmed to do drugs? because that implies that my genes have some inevitable control over me to do/like something, which isn't necessarily true because we ourselves groom our likes/dislikes with passage of time and gain of experience.

    • *But isn't

    • Sorry, but your genes do have some control over you to do/like something. Ask any son of an alcoholic.

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  • no its not rubbish. we are animals who's instincts shape what we feel, believe and do.

    our cognitive minds just tend to filter in our instinctive drives

    yes, men are universally programmed to cue in to evolved SIGNS OF FERTILITY aka nice shapes and curves.

    why is it so hard for you to believe instinct guides us. its the same as women getting wet and tingly for dominant men aka the types who in our evolved environment would have had power and resources

    • So when guys say they like small, perky boobs, are they lying?When men say they like skinny girls, are they lying?Attraction is attraction, it's like saying all women are attracted to tall men because it is a sign of protection/security.I don't give a damn about size.You think into it too much, nobody is biologically programmed to fancy taller people,bigger boobs, or wider hips.That is pretty ridiculous.We are individual humans with different attractions.Biology does not determine that IMO.

    • then you do not have a solid grasp of sociobiology or what instinctive drives guide humans. yes, some men like small boobs. but you hit the key word : PERKY aka sign of fertility. human attraction isn't just some dumb of chaos,nor is it a social construct.

    • Just whatever, honestly.All smaller boobs are perky, all medium pairs are perky, no big pairs are perky unless they are fake.And perkiness is NOT a sign of fertility, at all.Attraction is determined by upbringing,culture & general personal preference.I'm sorry but I don't buy this sh*t, look at all the other men answering saying what they like has nothing to do with biological programming or any of that rubbish.It's just personal preference,there is no science about it.

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  • Actually I tend to agree with you...where I think biological programming exists is in pheromones...lol...I seem to respond to those more than quite a few guys on here...maybe that's because I am such a primal animal!...(:

    • Thank you :) of course biological programming does exist, but with humans, we have advanced brains that allows us to have opinions and morals, as well as personal preferences, so biological programming has less of an affect on most of us, I say most because if you look at the other answers, many seem insistent on the fact of biological programming, but really, I just think that their personal preference is bigger boobs, it's not anything to do with biology, its just what they are attracted to.

    • LOL! Yes I concur totally...but my appreciation for pheromones is pretty intense...and yes I yield to them! ...(:

  • I don't buy that concept hook, line & sinker...but I think my two fixations are biologically programmed...(:

  • Biologically programmed is a reality get over it don't argue with science.

    • I never said it wasn't, but biological programming does not mean that all men like big boobs, that all men like wide hips, that all men are wired to cheat, does it?Because otherwise, there is no point in being in a relationship, is there?Our brains are what separates us from animals!We know what is right and wrong, we have control over urges and we have personal preferences and attractions.Just because you think it is 'biological instinct' to prefer big boobs, does not mean all men do.

    • Who said all men even tthe laws of physics how we know them don't operate on all or every time you have to exclude exceptions to the rule when discussing or else you never get anywhere. I also agree with you that we can override our urges because we are human however most people are not very bright and are closer to animal then human

    • Yes, but you said ''biologically programmed is a reality, get over it, don't argue with science.'' That means your saying that men are biologically programmed to prefer bigger boobs, wider hips, and to cheat, but you can see from other answers that this is not the case.The men featured in this question are not lying about their personal preferences, are they?Of course I believe in Science but Science does not come in to play with personal preference.

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  • Because men are programmed for that. If a woman has slim hips and no boobs, she could be less likely to conceive a child. The men that don't have a preference try and fail to have a child with her, and the one's that do have a preference have a child elsewhere. Their children are programmed with their preference. Obviously it doesn't always happen like that and culture plays a part. But genes obviously play a part in attraction.

    • Why would a woman be less likely to conceive if she has small boobs?Boobs have nothing whatsoever to do with it.I don't think biological factors have much to do with personal preference at all.I mean men don't say, ''Oh, she has big boobs so she must be more likely to conceive so I must be attracted to her.'' As I said, breasts have nothing to do with fertility.We have brains that are so amazing that we can distinguish between right and wrong, have our own attractions and opinions.Biology=Excuse

    • Because if she has no boobs it could be a sign of a hormone imbalance which would affect fertility. I guess the big boob thing could just be insurance that she's all the way through puberty, but I don't think it actually has anything to do with fertility. It could be sexual selection as well, but that's still biological programming. It's not about men thinking like that, it's about the genetics acting like that. You obviously don't understand biology or genetics.

    • Every girl has boobs, there is no such thing as ''no boobs'' there are such thing as ''small boobs.'' You don't think about hormone imbalance or fertility when you are checking out a girl, do you?This is all about personal preference, I don't think your understanding my question.Yes, I do understand it, but I also know that we, as humans have amazingly advanced brains which means we are very different from animals.If every man's genetics ''acted like that'' then all men would love big boobs,etc.

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  • Because it's truth.

    Morals also are biologically programmed, not taught by Bible. And if someone's born psychopath that creature won't have any morals ever.

    Opinions dance on the edge of peer-pressure, many people copy the voice of others to fit in and to avoid conflicts, even if they say what they do not mean. Life is full of situations like that, ass-kissers everywhere.

    Why do you say we "justify" anything? I like girls with big boobs, thin waist and wide hips - but it's not a kind of "choice"! I never made a choice to like or to dislike anything! I just like such girls! I'm born that way!

    And I found out that those are the signs of fertility and it all just makes sense!

    Since puberty we are driven by the will to have sex and it's an instinct to procreate not just some form of cultural hedonism.

    I guess I don't need to explain why such girls are better choice when it comes to giving birth and feeding the children, it's just obvious!

    But what I guess is that you are trying to justify something, probably in your mind blaming men for being "sleazy, shallow, perverted" and so on for some kind of reasons.

    We don't justify anything. We are born with those preferences, it's coded inside us.

    Like it or hate it, it just is so.

    • So your saying that all men prefer bigger boobs and wider hips, purely because of fertility?And what about the guys who genuinely say they prefer smaller boobs?Are they lying?What about guys who prefer bigger women?Are they lying too?What about the men who are not fussed at all?Are they secretly fussed?It is not just ''biological programming.'' It's also to do with upbringing and culture.Apparently it's female instinct to prefer men who are taller and who have muscles, I don't.

    • Your generalization of all men is pretty dumb, as obviously men have different ideas of what is attractive!

  • Are you attracted to tall guys? most girls are, and they say it's because of "protection", same deal with breasts

    • No, I'm not attracted to any particular height.That's why I don't believe all this ''biologically programmed'' rubbish, I know for a fact my boyfriend doesn't prefer massive breasts, and I've heard many other guys say they prefer medium, not huge.

    • ok so you're not, but %99 of girls are, this website is proof of that

    • No, 99% of girls are not, most girls are not even bothered about it.Can I just ask, how the hell do you know what all women prefer?Are you like a god of women?No, I didn't think so.Even if women did prefer taller men, that is probably to save the awkwardness of kissing, and feeling like an idiot in public, that is the only reasons I've heard women say they prefer taller guys.None have said anything about protection.

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  • Biologically programmed is rubbish.

    Culturally programmed is certain. Asian women appear more physically uniform than Western women and their men like them fine. For unknown reasons, Western men have "naturally selected" for Fertility Symbols.

    • Yeah, I definitely believe that cultural aspects are mostly what shapes the average person's preferences.I think that if small boobs were featured in the media to start with, now the average male would prefer smaller boobs.It's just we've had big breasts thrown into our faces for ages, and a lot of men unfortunately think that because it is in the public eye, it must be deemed as attractive.Some men just can 't figure out what they prefer, so they go by the general outlook.

    • 'sexually selected' *

    • And these physical features provide women the basis for discriminating against other women. ("Eww! Your boobs are so SMALL! Don't you wish you had big one's like MINE? I feel SOO bad for you!"

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