Playboy Models’ Curves May Be Sign of the Times

Wednesday, June 25th, 2003

Playboy Models’ Curves May Be Sign of the Times demonstrates the great use to which a psychology Ph.D. can be put:

According to researchers, a comparison of the faces and figures of Playmates of the Year from 1960 to 2000 suggests men may prefer stronger-looking women in hard times, and softer, more vulnerable types when bull markets resume.

“In short, we want someone to have fun with when times are good, and we want someone to take care of us — and themselves — when times are bad,” said psychology researcher Dr. Terry F. Pettijohn II, of Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Riiiigghhht. So how did they go about this scientific process?

In their research, Pettijohn and Jungeberg created an annual “hard times measure” by tracking changes in U.S. statistics on unemployment, marriage, homicide and other factors for the years 1960 through 2000.

Hard times? No comment.

Then, using clear, front-on photographs of Playboy Playmates of the Year for each of those 40 years, the two researchers made precise measurements of key face and body dimensions.

I’m guessing that, for once, the grad students didn’t do all the work.

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