[allison]

All the questions about why men and women will choose looks over personality and style are all connected to the concept of survival of the fittest. We instinctively know that those of the opposite sex that are "better-looking" are in general healthier and thus make better, more successful mates. The traits of better looking people include facial symmetry, clear eyes and skin, not too fat or skinny, .7 hip to waist ratio in women (no matter what the ratio is). These are the things that we instinctively or subconsciously, I guess you could say, look for in our mates. Better mates help to ensure healthy babies and that those babies will survive to adulthood and reproduce themselves and that's how we pass on our genes! Animals evaluate potential mates the exact same way.