Ummm... I guess this explains couples on sitcoms?

I ran into this article on Yahoo. The article suggest that marriages where the wife is better looking than the husband are more supportive and positive than other matchups (I guess they mean as oppose to attractive husband, no-so-attractive wife).

Here is a quote from the article.
Researchers admit that looks are subjective, but studies show there are some universal standards, including large eyes, "baby face" features, symmetric faces, so-called average faces, and specific waist-hip ratios in men versus women.

I don't how much of the "Universal Beauty Standard" is based on science as it is on environmental conditioning. Everyday we are brainwashed told by the media what "beauty" is suppose to look like. I wonder if the researchers took that into consideration when they studied what people were attracted to.

The article then goes on to say:

The finding "seems very reasonable," said Dan Ariely, a professor of behavioral economics at MIT's Program in Media Arts and Sciences and Sloan School of Management. "Men are very sensitive to women's attractiveness. Women seem to be sensitive to men's height and salary," said Ariely, who was not involved in the recent study.
In couples with more attractive husbands, both partners were less supportive of one another. McNulty suggests wives mirror, in some ways, the level of support they get from husbands.
"The husband who's less physically attractive than his wife is getting something more than maybe he can expect to get," McNulty told LiveScience. "He's getting something better than he's providing at that level. So he's going to work hard to maintain that relationship."

Besides the sexist comment, this shows that "ugly" girls are pretty much doomed. If you manage to catch a guy who is better looking than you (using that helpful Universal Beauty Standard), he won't support you. And, you won't support him. Forget that fairytale life.

And, "ugly" guys, your relationship with the UB (Universal Beauty) is going to be wonderful. Since you're "ugly" you won't stray. And, since you know you're lucky to get a UB, you're going to work hard to keep her.

More from the "article." You'll love this part.

Men who are more attractive than their partners would theoretically have access to partners who are more attractive than their current spouses, McNulty said. The "grass could be greener" mentality could make these men less satisfied and less committed to maintain the marriage.

Here we go again. Studies suggesting that men cannot control themselves. And, I thought this article was insulting to women.

Well, ugly women and UB women do have something in common according to this article. They won't be tempted by other men. Here is the final bit:

Physical attractiveness of husbands is not as important to women, the researchers suggest. Rather, wives are looking for supportive husbands, they say.

So, does that mean that Hollywood has been right all these years? Is that why the sitcom couples have less-than-stellar looking men married to better looking women?