Attractive women may have the competitive edge by letting their temper flare more

Researchers found women who rated themselves as pretty displayed a war-like streak when fighting battles to get their own way. The University of California interviewed 156 female students to gauge their temperament and how they handled conflict. In the study, the women who believed they were good looking were more likely to respond angrily in disputes than those who rated themselves as less attractive. Attractive women also had higher expectations of what they deserved. These were strategies that appeared to work because the same women were better at resolving situations in their favor. When the researchers scrutinized the findings further, they found how attractive other people rated the women also tallied. And so did hair color - with blonds rated as more attractive than brunettes and redheads. The researchers believe the findings have an evolutionary basis, ensuring that the "fittest" people mate and have offspring. In men, they found a similar link but with physical strength rather than attractiveness.