(Photo: Raymond Bryson)
Researchers at the University of Turku and Åbo Academy in Finland gathered 20 men between the ages of 20 and 32 and photographed them before and after shaving their chests.
These men were paid in vodka for their participation in the study.
Then the researchers asked women to rate the attractiveness of the men. The women at peak fertility in their menstrual cycles tended to prefer men with less chest hair. The women at low fertility during their menstrual cycles and postmenopausal women tended to prefer men with more chest hair. The women also tended to prefer men with chest hair levels that matched their current partners or fathers.
Why do you think this is so?
Step 2: Show photos to random members of the opposite sex. Ask them very personal questions while doing so.
Step 3: Publish results.
The frat boys in my college usually replaced step three with something a bit more self indulgent.