Why do humans put great deal on the looks?

Question

Why do humans prefer the physically beautiful looking people?

We all know the stories of how the looks invisibly impact our everyday lives.

Attractive looking people get high respect, and tend to take high social position, whereas unattractive looking people tend to be rejected by the society and get disrespected.

What's the secret behind that?

Answer 1

I disagree with you in a weird way.  There are plenty of "attractive" people with no self confidence.  And we never notice them because they don't care for themselves because they don't think they're worth much.  

I think people are attracted to confident ... people, if you were to see things the way I do.  This is not entirely my idea, I'm reading EQ right now and I'm learning some new things about emotions and how they affect the course of our lives.  

What I find most ironic is that the US claims they are big on individualism but in reality most people want to be like someone famous.  In Europe people are more down to earth when it comes to these things.  Just my experience.

Answer 2

darwins therory...its not on purpose its just nature that is deep set in us

Answer 3

I totally think some people care too much about looks and act like jerks about it, but I also think there are people who work very hard to be healthy and attractive. All that hard work deserves appreciation and a few compliments.

Answer 4

I think most of this happens between genders. Men adore beautiful women and women adore handsome men. I believe that this goes back to a very primal instinct to reproduce--if a person is attractive and healthy, then chances are they will be good at bearing children and will produce healthier, more attractive offspring.

This does happen sometimes, but I don't really think that putting a great deal of importance on looks is something that the majority of people do. Many unfortunatley think appearance matters (probably because they are narrow-mined and selfish) but I don't think that they put a great deal of importance on looks.

I for one don't really care what other people look like...but sometimes I get down on myself if I feel like I don't look the best I could. This just goes to show that most people crave the feeling that others think they are physically attractive. So, perhaps people who share the feeling respect beautiful people so they can recieve that admiration in return.

I hope I helped you with your question. Have a nice day!

Answer 5

All animals do in fact.  Being attractive in not simply about looks, but health and therefore reproductivity (basic needs of a species).  Thus, looks are important.

Answer 6

I personally am not sure. People do put too much dependence on there looks partially because it makes them feel better about themselves but it seems mostly to be accepted by others. In all I'm not sure why. people are weird

Answer 7

There is an evolutionary logic that if you pair up with an attractive partner, your children will be more likely to be attractive, so they in turn will also be able to pass on their genes. The looks are all about increasing reproductive potential. The problem with having an attractive partner is that you feel like every person of your same s*x wants them.

Answer 8

Pure biology. Good looks equates with good health and good looking healthy offspring.

Answer 9

I watched a tv show about beauty. This is what I learned: Even babies are more drawn to attractive people...which tells me it's instinctual. Attractiveness has a lot to do with symmetry. Someone who is symmetrical probably has stronger genes. We are subconsciously searching for ways to preserve our genes, so we look for partners with stronger genes to carry on our generations.

I'm sure this is the root of why we consider beauty so important in society. Beauty is considered as strength. We know logically this isn't true, but our instincts tell us otherwise.

I hope this made sense :)  

Answer 10

Its just the way we were made

Answer 11

Beauty is a characteristic of a person, place, object or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning or satisfaction. Beauty is studied as part of aesthetics, sociology, social psychology and culture. As a cultural creation, beauty has been extremely commercialized. An "ideal beauty" is a person who is admired, or possesses features widely attributed to beauty in a particular culture. A number of historical individuals have become icons of beauty, including Cleopatra VII, Helen of Troy, and Marilyn Monroe.

The subjective experience of "beauty" often involves the interpretation of some entity as being in balance and harmony with nature, which may lead to feelings of attraction and emotional well-being. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is a common phrase that expresses this concept.[1] In its most profound sense, beauty may engender a salient experience of positive reflection about the meaning of one's own existence. An "object of beauty" is anything that reveals or resonates with personal meaning.

The classical Greek adjective beautiful was καλλός. The Koine Greek word for beautiful was "ὡραῖος",[2] an adjective etymologically coming from the word "ὥρα" meaning hour. In Koine Greek, beauty was thus associated with "being of one's hour". A ripe fruit (of its time) was considered beautiful, whereas a young woman trying to appear older or an older woman trying to appear younger would not be considered beautiful. ὡραῖος in Attic Greek had many meanings, including youthful and ripe old age.[3]

The earliest Western theory of beauty can be found in the works of early Greek philosophers from the pre-Socratic period, such as Pythagoras. The Pythagorean school saw a strong connection between mathematics and beauty. In particular, they noted that objects proportioned according to the golden ratio seemed more attractive. Ancient Greek architecture is based on this view of symmetry and proportion. Modern research also suggests that people whose facial features are symmetric and proportioned according to the golden ratio are considered more attractive than those whose faces are not.



A famous depiction of symmetry in Michelangelo's David.Symmetry is also important because it suggests the absence of genetic or acquired defects. Although style and fashion vary widely, cross-cultural research has found a variety of commonalities in people's perception of beauty. Large eyes and a clear complexion, for example, are considered beautiful in both men and women in all cultures. Neonatal features are inherently attractive and youthfulness in general is associated with beauty.

There is evidence that a preference for beautiful faces emerges early in child development, and that the standards of attractiveness are similar across different genders and cultures. [4]

The foundations laid by Greek and Roman artists have also supplied the standard for male beauty in western civilization. The ideal Roman was defined as tall, muscular, long-legged, with a full head of thick hair, a high and wide forehead – a sign of intelligence – wide-set eyes, a strong browline, a strong perfect nose and profile, a smaller mouth, and a strong jaw line. This combination of factors would, as it does today, produce an impressive "grand" look of handsome masculinity.

Beauty ideals may contribute to racial oppression. For example, a prevailing idea in American culture has been that black features are less attractive or desirable than white features. The idea that blackness was ugly was highly damaging to the psyche of African Americans, manifesting itself as internalized racism.[5] The black is beautiful cultural movement sought to dispel this notion.[6] Conversely, beauty ideals may also promote racial unity. Mixed race children are often perceived to be more attractive than their parents because their genetic diversity protects them from the inherited errors of their individual parents. [7]

Answer 12

cuz we're seen with them, you look at them. most of your time you look at people rather than like other stuff. i think that people don't want to be around with ugly people, maybe they judge or something... sorry i cant explain it properly.

Answer 13

It is only natural to be attracted to the beauty in life.  Other wise less people would stay in the warm tropic like areas, it is the same thing.  I mean, are you attracted to ugly???

Although, people are attracted to different levels of beautiful.

You are attracted to who you are attracted to, while others may not even think they look remotely good.

Answer 14

It's the theory of evolution again. Survival of the fittest.

The strongest, the best looking. They will have the most desirable genes. It is genetically programmed to seek out such genes and so on.

From a social science and psychology point of view however, we tend to gravitate in the end towards the level of looks we believe we can succeed with... or that we deserve.

Answer 15

Its our human nature to seek out the "desirable" traits in people. I think physical attraction is an important factor when searching for a mate. Sure you should always "look inside" someone not just their looks, but c'mon lets be real, I doubt there is a lot of people out there who will be physically drawn to someone who is clearly unattractive.

Answer 16

you want your chick, or your guy to be hot, so when you are having s*x, you are acutaly happy about it =)

Answer 17

looks are what people use for first impression..then if they are open minded enough they get to know the person...I have seen and met many people who are not that good looking then there personalities make them ALL THAT....to generalize that all un attractive people are shunned by society i would disagree...depends on what you think is attractive or not...because i have met people that are what you might consider attractive and think they are are ugly ignorant people...bottom line be yourself and the best you can be and you will attract beautiful people inside and out

Answer 18

WE DO SO BECAUSE WE EITHER HAVE INSECURITIES OR PROBLEMS WITH OURSELVES. WE ONLY DO IT TO IMPRESS OTHER AND AS U SAID, TO GET RESPECT WITH PEERS AND TO HAVE A GOOS SOCIAL STANDING. I AM STILL A TEENAGE! IMAGINE HOW HARD IT IS FOR ME WITH THE WHOLE APPEARENCE THING. I SAY, LOOK AT WHAT IS IN THE INSIDE RATHER THAN WHAT IS ON THE OUTSIDE. BECAUSE AT TIMES THE BEAUTIFUL IN THE OUTSIDE DOESN;T REFLECT ON WHAT YOU HAVE ON THE INSIDE!