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In this column, Angie writes about how different events in history have been a result of psychology and how psychology connects to the world around us.
Psychology of beauty
Psychology of beauty
By: Angie Dixon
By: Angie Dixon
As Socrates once said, beauty is a short lived tyranny. When someone is beautiful, opportunities are handed to them; people smile at them; people hold doors open for them. To be beautiful is to be blessed with endless advantages-- but even with abundant privilege, attractiveness is fleeting. Similar to a flower that has just blossomed, beauty tarnishes as swiftly as it glistens, and the admiring eye of the public shifts its attention to a younger, more desirable jewel. As Socrates illustrates, beautiful people are welcomed tyrants; until they become outdated and are inevitably replaced by youth. Additionally, while this desire for beautiful, youthful things is greatly a result of an innate, biological need for survival, it is also a result of ever-changing standards and consumerist ideals.
Tens of thousands of years ago, humans utilized beauty as a way to measure the health and quality of a potential mate; seeking out various features, such as symmetry, to find the best individual to partner with. According to a study conducted by Daniel B Yarosh, the genes that increase the chances of survival (and therefore are passed down onto succeeding generations) will eventually become favored over lesser attributes and become a standard trait in humans, magnifying that gene's perceived attractiveness and the human brain's positive reception to it.
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From a biological standpoint, the recognition of beauty was merely a tool the human mind used in order to create the healthiest, strongest offspring. Later on in history, however, the qualities that were deemed attractive were considered symbols of wealth and royalty. Those of high status would most commonly have excess body fat and paler skin, due to lavish meals and slaves who worked outdoors for them. Impoverished individuals, on the other hand, were often thin and starved, with dark tans due to working in humid conditions. For this reason, the attributes associated with upper class citizens became the beauty standard during the renaissance, where extravagance and luxury were exceptionally popular.
However, the standards for beauty are erratic, and like the violent, irregular waves of the sea, expectations are constantly fluctuating. During the late 1930s, for example, beauty standards were deeply influenced and changed by the iconic Marilyn Monroe. With her trademark red lipstick and expensive, charming appearance, Marilyn paved the way for body positivity during the 20th century and inspired women across the globe to embrace their feminine attributes. As stated by the Parlor Beauty Bar, in the early 1900s a thin body with minimal curves was idealized, but with the rising popularity of Monroe, people began to appreciate shapely, curvaceous body types as well, and having curves became the standard.
By: gettyimages.com
Nevertheless, those standards were ephemeral, and after the passing of Marilyn Monroe, the public chose to idolize slim, toned bodies once more. Because of these changeable expectations, beauty is no longer a psychological tool used to recognize symmetry and health; it is a characteristic that can define an individual's future in society, how they are treated, and the opportunities that they are presented with.
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