The question, whether size does matter or not, is widely discussed in bars and at parties, often in a non-scientific way. However, the statements made, often end up to be indecisive. Just recently, a study suggested that flaccid penis size indeed does have an influence on the attractiveness of males. [1]
In their study, the scientists presented computer-generated images of naked males to women, which then should rate the attractiveness on a scale from 1 to 7. The 105 women had to rate 53 random images, where the generated models varied in flaccid penis size, height and shoulder-to-hip-ratio. All varying parameters are known to link to perceived attractiveness.
The main finding was that size indeed does matter, but only with respect to the other traits. When the height and shoulder-to-hip-ratio is already considered to be attractive, the penis size would have a smaller impact in overall change of attractiveness. Furthermore, a model with a V-shaped torso was always found to be considered more attractive than its shorter counterparts, regardless of penis size. However, the relation between penis size and attractiveness is nonlinear. The increase in attractiveness declined as the shoulder-to-hip-ratio, the penis size or the height increased.
The authors also suggest that these findings have favored males with larger penises, increasing average penis size over long times, compared to our evolutionary relatives.
So we finally have scientific proof that size does matter, although it is not as simple as “the bigger, the better”.
Robert Lindner
[1] B. Mautz et al, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2013), 110, 6925.