Researcher explains why men like breasts so much

One thing is for a fact, men love breasts. A man's gaze always passes over a woman's breasts, even if it's not his intention. We want to look, touch, kiss, suck… But there's a reason we're crazy about them, and biology can help us understand that.

Unlike the vagina or the penis, the breasts are not primary sexual organs. Breasts don't directly serve reproduction, but the milk they produce helps support a baby for months - or even years - after birth. Biologically speaking, making the breast attractive to any species that depends on breast milk for nutrition makes perfect sense.

According to Larry Young, a professor of psychology at Emory University in the United States who studies the neural underpinnings of complex social behaviors, human evolution took advantage of an ancient neural circuitry that evolved primarily to strengthen the bond between mother and baby during childhood. breastfeeding, and the brain now uses that link to strengthen the relationship between adults who are potential sexual partners.

The reason why breast obsession is so hard to overcome could be a hormone that a woman's body produces when her breasts are stimulated: oxytocin. Oxytocin helps the mother bond with the baby during breastfeeding. It's also the same hormone responsible for wanting to hug and feel connected to your partner before and after sex.

Another possible reason men like breasts, especially ones that are voluminous and round: they can indicate fertility. While we look for more than just fertility when choosing a mate in modern times, our ancestors used the size and shape of a woman's breasts as a sign that she would make a good mother, even if they didn't know it. As a woman's breasts form during puberty, they seemed to be a sign of her ability to get pregnant.

The placement of the prominent breasts in front of the body in a good field of vision was also no accident. When our ancestors started to stand and walk upright, the organs changed. Before that, sex happened on all fours. Perhaps it is correct to call the doggy style 'human style'? But humans needed to find new ways to have sex now that the vagina had changed position.

The breasts also swell and bulge when aroused (as do the vulva and lips), which serves to draw more attention to the woman's chest. They play a crucial role in modern sex thanks to their sensitivity (some women can orgasm with nipple stimulation alone), which greatly stimulates oxytocin.

Not only men love breasts

It's not just men who like breasts. One study showed that women, even straight women, find that their eyes are drawn to other women's breasts. The study suggests that both sexes view women objectively, which is not the case for how people view men — as a whole.

Objective or not, simply all people are attracted to breasts.

But don't think that breasts are everything. A researcher named Clyan Ford found that breasts have sexual significance in only 13 of the 191 cultures he studied. Some men also prefer women's buttocks to breasts. In addition, many men are looking for partners that go beyond looks.

The importance of breasts varies by culture. Although in many countries mothers are embarrassed to breastfeed their babies in the presence of other people, in others women walk around without clothes on top, which is normal.

Do men only like big boobs?

Not necessarily. One study indicated that men prefer firmer, medium-sized breasts over small or large breasts, which can sag more with age.

Society generates great aesthetic pressure on women, we know that's how it is. Many end up adhering to silicone implants to have bigger breasts. However, the natural breast has a softness that cannot be imitated by plastic surgery.

At the end of the day, everyone has their preferences. There are so many shapes and sizes of breasts, perky or not, with or without silicone, big or small nipples... There's something for everyone!

References:

• Havlíček, Jan, et al. "Men's preferences for women's breast size and shape in four cultures." Evolution and Human Behavior 38.2 (2017): 217-226.
• How our brains see men as people and women as body parts: Both genders process images of men, women differently https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120725150215.htm