Preadolescents' Perceptions of Females' Body Size and Shape: Evolutionary and Social Learning Perspectives.

Studied the perceptions of 165 Mexican American and Euro-American adolescents and their parents about healthy and attractive female body sizes and shapes using a pictorial measure. Results suggest that Euro-American and Mexican American participants report similar preferences for females' body sizes and shapes, but little agreement was found between perceptions of preadolescents and their parents. Uses principles of evolutionary theory and social learning theory to interpret the findings. (SLD)