It is a subject that few dare to approach head -on. And yet, a recent American study, relayed by the review Sexescomes to throw a pavement in the pond: the view of a generous chest could trigger aggressive behaviors in some women. A very real social mechanism according to scientists, who would be part of what they call “intersex competition”.
Breast images to measure social aggressiveness
The study, conducted with 114 mostly Hispanic women from Texas A \ & M University, was interested in a very visible bodily detail: breast size. The average age of the participants was 24 years old, whether single or in a couple.
Concretely, the participants watched a series of 12 retouched images with different sizes of the chest – from hat to to hat D – as well as several levels of subsidence (or ptose). They then had to assess their potential reactions to these images. The researchers chatted in particular on two forms of aggression: direct (cries, insults) or indirect (gossip, mockery).
Result without detour: the more the displayed chest was bulky, the more hostile women ‘responses became, verbally or socially. C and D cups aroused much more negative reactions. On the other hand, ptose did not seem to influence behavior.
An instinct mechanism according to researchers
For the authors, this phenomenon is part of a very old process: “intersex competition”. This form of rivalry, often unconscious, would be linked to the perception of a threat on the sexual level. In other words, a chest considered as “advantageous” could be seen as an asset of too powerful seduction, and therefore as a potential danger in the race for partners.
The site Psypost specifies that this concept is based on evolutionary bases. “”The physical characteristics desired by the opposite sex can lead to competition between members of the same sex to access potential partners“Explains the review Sexes.
Scientific limits but a burning subject
The researchers themselves recognize certain limits to their protocol. The study does not take into account all the aesthetic variables of the chest – such as the positioning of the nipple, the symmetry or the distance between the breasts – nor other factors of potential aggressiveness. The sample, although representative of a university population, remains limited.
But the observation remains there: the chest continues to crystallize tensions, judgments and rivalries. Much more than a physical attribute, it plays a social role, sometimes conflicting, at the heart of female dynamics.