Why do men fantasize about big breasts?
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Women accept that nature has given them breasts; and they also accept (and are often tyrannised by) the fact that men and society seem to prefer large breasts. But do they, for a moment, wonder why men find big breasts so very attractive? Scientists and psychologists have tried to address the issue.
Searching for a motherly breast?
According to some psychiatrists, mummy is to blame as the number one culprit. The reason is obvious: a baby first feeds from his mother’s breast and so breasts continue to fascinate him throughout his life, long after his interest in milk has disappeared. According to this theory, because his mother had large breasts when he was small, a man will try to find someone who can ‘nourish’ him again.
Some people find this psychological theory rather silly. After all, women are also breast-fed but they’re not motivated in the same way to find a partner with the same breasts as their mother’s!
And, increasingly mothers are choosing to bottle-feed but this doesn’t seem to make their offspring either indifferent to or, conversely, obsessed with, large breasts.
Do beautiful breasts means beautiful children?
This is where anthropology takes over from psychology. Anthropology, which is the historical study of mankind, has explored this same issue, attempting to explain why men and women from western societies are so obsessed by small-waisted, voluptuous blondes (think Marily Monroe).
There’s a simple physiological explanation: a beautiful woman appears healthier than an unattractive woman and breasts are construed as a good indicator of health.
Anthropologist, Frank Marlowe from Harvard University has even published a study on this. He hypothesizes that men prefer large, firm breasts as they are seen as a good indicator of health. For men, large breasts and well-defined hips are indicative of high sex hormone levels and are therefore a sign of fertility.
According to anthropological and evoltionary theories, when a man responds to a beautiful curvy woman he does so instinctively, as a future father, just as a woman, as a future mother, responds to a handsome man with broad shoulders and an athletic body.
Breasts and evolutionary change
Dr Leonard Shlain, surgeon and author of "Sex, Time, and Power: How Woman’s Sexuality Shaped Human Evolution" has also proposed an interesting theory. He hypothesizes that when our ancestors evolved from the quadruped to the bipedal stage, their buttocks became less visible and their breasts more so.
To optimise the chances of conception, he claims our ancestors would have changed from doggy-style lovemaking to the missionary position where the breasts are fully in view.
Prehistoric man may well have chosen his partner on account of her generous behind, however sexual preferences have changed and breasts are now seen as an important indicator of fertility in women.
Real breasts, fake breasts …
Face lifts, liposuction and breast surgery have changed everything. Now a woman of any age can enjoy age-defying, and even gravity-defying, breasts. So, in theory, breasts shouldn’t play such an important part in human sexual behaviour. However, despite this buxom breasts still seem to be the objects of male fantasy.
Although many men appear to prefer large breasts, luckily many women find that this isn’t the case. Men, being men, love all kinds of breasts whatever the size... as long as they've got some that they can call "their own"!
Sources:
Human nature Volume 9, Number 3, September 1998
"Sex, Time and Power: How Women’s Sexuality Shaped Human Evolution," Dr Leonary Shlain, Viking Books
Faris Sanhaji
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