Final answer:
Cultural norms are significant in influencing mate selection, often outweighing reproductive fitness in human society. Sexual selection theories like the good genes hypothesis and the handicap principle suggest that physical attractiveness can serve as honest signals of genetic quality, impacting mate choice and population genetics.
Step-by-step explanation:
An examination of physical traits that are commonly viewed as attractive in modern society seems to indicate that cultural norms, rather than reproductive fitness, play a significant role in influencing mate selection. Research suggests that while natural selection promotes traits that enhance survival and reproduction, human perceptions of attractiveness and mate selection are heavily influenced by cultural factors and sexual selection. These influences lead to the development of regionally distinct features that meet local standards for attractiveness and may contribute to human phenotypic diversity.
The good genes hypothesis and the handicap principle are two theories that use honest signals to explain why individuals with certain traits are more attractive and thus have higher mating success. These traits may signal an individual's genetic health or superior ability to survive, making them more appealing to potential mates geographically.
In both the good genes hypothesis and the handicap principle, the attractive trait is an honest signal of the male's quality, assisting females in selecting the fittest mates to pass the best genes to their offspring. This phenomenon aligns with the overwhelming evidence that traits individuals find attractive can be heritable and can affect reproductive success, ultimately influencing population genetics over time.