When it comes to attractive men, some women are of the opinion that they are more likely to be selfish. And according to a new study, they may be right. Researchers from Brunel University London in the UK found that attractive men were less generous and were less likely to favor equality, though this was not the case for attractive women.

Share on Pinterest Men who scored higher on measures of attractiveness were also more selfish and less favorable of equality.

Lead investigator Dr. Michael Price and his team publish their findings in the journal Evolutionary Psychology.

This is not the first time a study has investigated the psychological effects of people’s attractiveness. In December 2014, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting people with average-looking faces appear more trustworthy, while research from September 2013 found men with wide faces may trigger selfishness in others.

In this latest study, the team set out to see how attractiveness influences individual’s attitudes and behavior toward inequality and selfishness.

The investigators say the research was inspired by a previous theory suggesting that when it comes to competitions for social status, people who are attractive tend to reign, meaning they have more to gain by bolstering social inequality.

To reach their findings, the team measured the bodies of 63 men and 62 women using a 3D body scanner.

The participants were given attractiveness scores based on their body measurements – including waist-to-chest ratio for men, waist-to-hip ratio for women and slimness.

Participants also completed a personality questionnaire, from which the researchers obtained information on their attitudes and behavior toward selfishness and inequality. As an extra measure, the subjects took part in an experiment, in which they were given money and asked to decide how much they wanted to share with another individual.