People’s dissatisfaction with their height predicts jealousy and competitiveness, new study finds

New research published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences sheds light on the relationship between height dissatisfaction and intrasexual competition—rivalry among individuals of the same sex for status, resources, or romantic partners. The study suggests that psychological perceptions of one’s own height—not just actual stature—can play an important role in shaping social behaviors such as envy, jealousy, and competitiveness, especially among men.

Taller individuals are often perceived as more dominant, attractive, and competent, and tend to receive more positive treatment in romantic and professional contexts. While these advantages are typically greater for men, the desire to meet cultural height ideals affects both sexes. Previous research has shown that shorter men are more likely to exaggerate their height, express greater jealousy, and feel less dominant in male-to-male interactions. But the psychological impact of being dissatisfied with one’s height has not been thoroughly explored until now.

To address this gap, researchers examined both the physical and psychological dimensions of height and how they relate to different forms of intrasexual competition. They were particularly interested in how height dissatisfaction might motivate individuals to compete more aggressively or feel more threatened by same-sex peers.

The study recruited 302 heterosexual adults in the United States through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Participants ranged in age from 20 to 72 years, with an average age of about 37. Around 63% of the participants were men, and roughly three-quarters identified as White. Participants completed a series of questionnaires measuring their actual height, ideal height, and level of height dissatisfaction. They also answered questions assessing their tendencies toward intrasexual envy, jealousy, and general competitiveness with same-sex individuals.

To measure intrasexual competition, the researchers used a 12-item scale with three components: envy (such as resenting attractive peers), jealousy (such as disliking ambitious peers), and competitiveness (such as a desire to outperform others of the same sex). Participants rated how strongly they agreed with each statement on a 7-point scale. Height dissatisfaction was assessed using two questions: one asking whether they wished to be taller and another asking whether they were satisfied with their height.

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As expected, both men and women tended to wish they were taller than they actually were. On average, men reported higher levels of competitiveness than envy or jealousy, while women reported more envy than the other two traits. Between sexes, women were more envious than men, but men were generally taller and desired even greater height than women did.

When examining correlations, the researchers found that people who were shorter or less satisfied with their height tended to be more envious, more jealous, and more competitive toward same-sex peers. These effects were especially strong for men. Shorter men were more likely to report heightened levels of intrasexual envy, jealousy, and competition. For women, physical height was not as strongly related to competitiveness, but the psychological desire to be taller was.

In other words, for men, being short was associated with feeling disadvantaged in social rivalries. For women, it was not their actual height but their dissatisfaction with it that predicted their competitive attitudes. Across both sexes, the wish to be taller was one of the strongest predictors of feeling envious, jealous, or competitive toward others of the same gender.

The researchers also found that certain combinations of traits predicted heightened competitiveness. For example, people who were both short and unhappy with their height, or those who had a significant gap between their current and ideal height, were more likely to report feeling jealous or competitive. This suggests that both physical stature and how people feel about their stature interact to influence social behaviors.

Interestingly, one of the items used to measure height dissatisfaction—“I am satisfied with my height”—did not strongly predict competitiveness. The desire to be taller, however, consistently did. This implies that the motivation to increase one’s stature, even if impossible in reality, may be a more influential factor in social behavior than simply accepting one’s current height.

There are a few caveats to consider. The sample was mostly drawn from a Western, educated, and internet-savvy population, which may not reflect global attitudes toward height. The research was also cross-sectional, meaning it could not determine cause and effect. It’s unclear whether dissatisfaction with height leads to more competitiveness or whether highly competitive individuals become more concerned with their height.

The authors suggest that future research could benefit from more balanced and nuanced measures of height dissatisfaction. Including items that explore both ends of the height spectrum could offer a more complete picture, especially in populations where being too tall is also considered undesirable. Further research might also examine whether cultural norms influence height-related dissatisfaction and whether people engage in compensatory behaviors—such as building muscle, wearing heels, or seeking surgical interventions—because of it.

The study, “Intrasexual Envy, Jealousy, and Competitiveness Are Associated With Height and Height Dissatisfaction,” was authored by Daniel Talbot and Peter K. Jonason.