The Science of Scantily Clad Avatars
Researchers Anna Lomanowska and Matthieu Guitton spent a year examining scantily-clad avatars in the game Second Life in order to determine just how much skin they show — and whether the female avatars show more skin, on average, than the male avatars. A tough job, but someone had to do it! They discovered that "virtual females disclose substantially more naked skin than virtual males." This adds to the growing body of evidence that pretty much everyone likes looking at naked women. (Advertisers have known this since forever.) Their full article can be read at PLOS ONE.
Comments
As long as they were working with a gubment grant, then I don't mind. If, however, they were wasting their own money.... well, that was just stupid!
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 12/29/12 at 09:01 AM
I think gay men and straight women like looking at naked men more than they like looking at naked women, though!
Posted by JMS on 12/30/12 at 01:23 AM
I like looking at naked men more than naked women.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/30/12 at 03:50 AM
JMS -- I think that may be the assumption this study is calling into question. There could be some cultural thing going on wherein everyone (including gay men and straight women) considers men sexier with their clothes on. Perhaps because clothes are often symbols of status and power. Think men in expensive suits, or in uniforms (policemen, firemen, etc.) Or maybe not. I didn't actually read the study that closely!
Posted by Alex on 12/30/12 at 08:45 AM
Or it could be that most people want to BE a scantily clad woman.
Posted by Jim on 12/31/12 at 07:53 AM
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Category: Science | Sexuality | Women | Videogames and Gamers