Devendra Singh (January 12, 1938 – May 18, 2010) was a professor of
Psychology at the
University of Texas, known largely for his research regarding the evolutionary significance of human attraction.
Biography
Singh was born in 1938 in Urai, India. Having first taken degrees in philosophy and psychology (
Agra University), he completed his PhD at
Ohio State University in 1966. Singh took up teaching positions at
Wright State University
Wright State University is a public research university in Fairborn, Ohio. Originally opened in 1964 as a branch campus of Miami University and Ohio State University, it became an independent institution in 1967 and was named in honor of aviation ...
and
North Dakota State University before moving to the
University of Texas at Austin in 1969.
A pioneer in the field of
evolutionary psychology, Singh's most notable research concerned the evolutionary significance of
waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). In 1993, he was the first to elucidate the concept and significance of this ratio as an indicator of attractiveness. In brief, Singh discovered that men rated women with low WHR (0.7) as optimally attractive, noting that lower levels of WHR correlated to lower risk of disease and greater fertility. Subsequent research demonstrated the cross-cultural and cross-temporal appeal of a low WHR. One of his final research papers on the topic of WHR found that the "hourglass figure" (optimal WHR) activates brain centers that drive appetitive sociality/attention toward females that represent the highest-quality reproductive partners.
Although principally affiliated with the field of evolutionary psychology, his other research pursuits included
substance abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods which are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, ...
,
obesity,
eating disorders
An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviors that negatively affect a person's physical or mental health. Only one eating disorder can be diagnosed at a given time. Types of eating disorders include binge eating ...
, motivation, and the psychology of sex.
References
External links
* Devendra Singh's University of Texas webpage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Devendra
Indian academics
1938 births
2010 deaths
Ohio State University alumni
University of Texas at Austin faculty
Indian psychologists
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University alumni