Two studies have shed light on what the opposite sex finds attractive. To add just another difference between the sexes, it seems men see eye to eye on who they find attractive, while women don't seem to be able to agree.

The new study by Wake Forest University psychologist Dustin Wood was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. ‘Men agree a lot more about who they find attractive and unattractive than women agree about who they find attractive and unattractive,' says Wood. ‘This study shows we can quantify the extent to which men agree about which women are attractive and vice versa.'

There were more than 4,000 participants in the study, ranging in age from 18 to 70+. The factors assessed were attractiveness, seductiveness, confidence, whether they were thin, sensitive, stylish, curvaceous (women), muscular (men), traditional, masculine/feminine, classy, well-groomed and upbeat. These helped the researchers figure out what common characteristics appealed most to women and men.

Men's judgments of women's attractiveness were based primarily around physical features - they rated those who looked thin, confident and seductive highly. Women rated preferences for thin, muscular subjects, but disagreed on how attractive many men in the study were. Some women gave high attractiveness ratings to the men other women said were not attractive at all.

‘These differences have implications for the different experiences and strategies that could be expected for men and women in the dating marketplace,' says Wood.

For example, women may encounter less competition from other women for the men they find attractive, he says. Men may need to invest more time and energy in attracting and then guarding their mates from other potential suitors, given that the mates they judge attractive are likely to be found attractive by many other men.

‘The study helps explain why women experience stronger norms than men to obtain or maintain certain physical characteristics,' he says. ‘Women who are trying to impress men are likely to be found much more attractive if they meet certain physical standards, and much less if they don't. Although men are rated as more attractive by women when they meet these physical appearance standards too, their overall judged attractiveness isn't as tightly linked to their physical features.'

Another study published in Personal Relationships examines the way that perceptions of physical attractiveness are influenced by personality. The findings are that both men and women who exhibit positive traits - such as honesty and helpfulness - are perceived as better looking. Those who exhibit the negative traits of unfairness and rudeness appear to be less physically attractive.

The findings show that a positive personality leads to greater desirability as a friend, which leads to greater desirability as a romantic partner and, ultimately, to being viewed as more physically attractive. ‘Perceiving a person as having a desirable personality makes the person more suitable in general as a close relationship partner of any kind,' says study author Gary W. Lewandowski, Jr.

Previous studies examined physical appearance and personality mainly as independent sources in predicting attraction. By presenting this information in instalments, the study simulates a more typical context in which seeing the person's appearance precedes learning about their personality, and shows that perceptions of a person's physical attractiveness may change over time due to their positive or negative traits.

‘This research provides a more positive alternative by reminding people that personality goes a long way toward determining your attractiveness; it can even change people's impressions of how good looking you are,' says Lewandowski.

So the moral of the story? Smile and look pretty, people - your attractiveness is being assessed.