Have you ever done something you normally wouldn't do because of the presence of the opposing gender?
I know I'm plenty guilty and shallow to the above statement. If somebody were to ask me if I wanted to go eat at a place I despised, the natural reaction is to usually ask "who is going?" Almost 10/10 times I will say yes and go if there is an attractive female who is going to be there. I
hate myself because of this - it's so stupid, but I continue to do it anyway.
This got me to wonder, what is the purpose of beauty anyway? Why is it that somewhere inside me, I am willing to sacrifice myself for the sake of another because of her looks.
I thought back to philosophy and aesthetics from freshman year, but realized that I didn't remember anything from that class because it was at 8:00 a.m.
So here I am, writing this blog entry. What is the purpose of beauty? Why does or brain like natural order and patterns? Why will I do the stupidest things for a girl, even when I know I only like her for heir looks?
Why is it that everybody wants to have a good looking GF/BF but somehow knows that they should be looking for significant other with beauty that is past skin deep?
I think I have some answers, but I'd like to hear your guys' opinion first. Comment and let me know what you think.
_bq
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Comments (27)
It makes your penis bigger.
I guess beauty shows that you've got 'good' genes. That's why you'd be attracted.
Inside beauty ...
To me beauty is not important.... I know that in the society I live in it is very important... Even though being pretty has undeniable advantages, I must admit that I despise the men who are so weak as to bow to my every whim simply because of the way I look......... I think what we view as beautiful has proven to be based more on the culture we are raised in rather than what our mind likes "naturally". We have only to take a close look at what various cultures both modern and historical find beautiful to see the evidence of that....... As to why some people do stupid things simply based on someones looks... well it's because they are ignorant of their own weaknesses or because even being aware of their weakness they are too stupid to realize that they are sacrificing long term happiness for short term pleasure...... Every time a man kneels at the altar of superficial beauty and sacrifices to her ungrateful grasp his own infinately more worthwile mind he loses a little part of himself that I think he will someday miss having.
cant deny it..
Because in order for a relationship to work, you HAVE to be sexually attracted to that individual. It might seem shallow to those against following pop standards, but it's true. If you're in a relationship where you don't like even kissing/making out with your SO, good luck making it work. Sex, and sexual activity, is a natural and normal part of any relationship and without those things, I can guarantee you that your relationship will suffer.
People want another hot person for selfish reasons. Either to show them off to their friends or so that they'll have a 'better' time with them in bed.
It's always been that attractive people are believed to be nicer, richer, cooler, etc.
There was that study with the 'ugly' teacher and the pretty teacher. And obviously kids liked the pretty teacher because they thought she was a better teacher. But really, it's because it was nicer to look at her.
Pretty people just get a lot of things they want because we're all just nicer to pretty people. It's only until you finally get to know them that you probably change your mind
Media and Society for some reason, just gets people badly when it comes to being "Shallow". You are just being yourself, let it go; This world wouldn't exactly be interesting/"fun" if people didn't hold standards of the dating scene. You want the better breed of the opposite gender, good for you :D. Everybody prefers to have some sort of physical attraction to their partner (even/especially if its a booty call), you don't want to wake up going "Never gonna drink again" or "I should run before she sees me".Â
Be Shallow, doesn't matter, if it bothers you that much though, change. It's that simple.
That's pretty normal... Even though I wouldn't date someone based solely on looks, I can't be interested if I don't find them attractive -- even if I don't find them attractive until I get to know their personality, I still find them attractive while we are dating. That's just human nature. Naturally speaking, we go for good looking people, because it USUALLY means they are healthy and have good genes, and we are hardwired to look for people we can reproduce with (even if kids are really the last thing we are looking for), and obviously, we're going to want to reproduce with someone who is going to give off healthy off spring.
Needless to say, just because you do silly things for someone at first because they are good looking doesn't mean you're going to want to stick around if their personality sucks... it's just that the superficial is what is going to initially pull you in.
Well, I can't really think of a purpose other than like, mating stuff. Because men are attracted to women with physical qualities society would say were "hot", & it's no coincidence those particular qualities are supposed to be ideal for mating.
Because it makes you feel great if you actually have someone that YOU think is beautiful && has a good personality
Usually only the first option happens
I'll say evolution. The attractive ones get mates, which allows them to continue their genetic line. Out of that context, I wouldn't really know what to say. People usually get past the outer beauty thing and realize inner beauty probably trumps aesthetics. It takes some time, but it happens.
They're both equally important. Society teaches us that we should ignore looks and go for inner beauty, but it never works that way in reality. Eveyone wants to be with someone they find attractive - maybe that means muscles and curly blond hair to one person or blue hair and pericings to another. In order for a relationship to work you have to find them attractive both inside and out.
Beauty is a generic term. Everyone has their own idea of what's attractive embedded in their brains though, so even if you think beauty doesn't matter you will always go for someone who is attractive to you.
It's normal to be attractive to a person based on looks first until you get to know them better and/or want to be more than friends with them. I mean, their looks alone can't keep you in the relationship with them forever. True beauty is within.. even though their physical appearance may play a great deal of a part in the beginning.
beauty is subjective so the importance is to help an individual ascertain their own self-view
It's becuase you want someone that appeals to your visual sense. You want someone that you're able to look at everyday and feel good about being with that person... Everyone is the same way. Everyone wants something visually appealing...
two words: Human Nature
I think we're all guilty of that one.
I'm like that too sometimes, but both looks and personality are important. Eventually, after you get past the outer shell, and you start to realize how dull and ... "stupid" if you will, she is, it's not that appealing anymore. Inside beauty counts too.
Iono if I made sense :< .
Apparently when someone you find attractive responds to you positively (i.e. a smile) the ventral striatum in your brain is stimulated and it makes you happy. (AP Psych so many years ago :)
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
That's all I have to say.
We cannot gauge the inner beauty of someone at first glance but we can do it for the outer beauty. It is easier and less time consuming. If you figure out that you are attracted to the person, you would spend more time on trying to figure out her inner beauty. It is probably the same thing with how our brains create categories and how we have stereotypes. It is just easier for us to choose who to spend time on.
Beauty is as important as you  make it to be but let's face it, it's called being geared to a specific preference to the person in question. Beauty could mean a lot of things. It could mean that their eyes are the most beautiful thing ever or their smile or the way they look that tugs at your heart because you're attracted to them even before they open their mouth.
That's nothing to be embarassed about. Being superficial/shallow is part of whatever. You have a preference like any other person; some people only date redheads, others like slightly chubby but cute girls, others won't date a darker skinned girl because he thinks porcelain skin is beautiful, etc... Same thing with women, some women won't date bald men, some women will date only bald men, some like a little beer gut, others look for a six pack... the list goes on and on and on... The importance beauty is ultimately how you would want to be perceived by others and how important that level of perception is to you personally. It doesn't make you any less of a person or does it target against your integrity. We all want to be surrounded by beautiful things (whatever defines the word 'beautiful') so why wouldn't be inclined to be surrounded by beautiful people?:)Taking the science route, you want and like physically attractive women because it is built into your DNA like it is built into everyone. Why are women attracted to tall men with broad shoulders? Is this any different than what animals do when they mate? No. Because after all we are animals, specifically mammals. When we see boobs, legs, and physically attractive women we subconsciously think "dude I want to do her". But biologically we are saying, "she can breastfeed my children, her hips can successfully deliver my children, and she is in physically fit". That is why we are attracted to this stuff. It works the other way too for women, they just put emphasis on different factors.
Alas why do you feel guilty about it? Because unlike most animals, we have the ability to rationalize and socially interact in a way that doesn't require these physical characteristics. Socially, in a society where we, at least most of us, see things as fair, this idea is unfair. But as unfair as either seem it is why as you get to personally know someone they can become more attractive to you.
Which should dominate your decision on choosing a gf and potential wife? Thats up to you decide. My questions to you, and the ones I think about or at least try to when I am meeting someone is this. Would I still be interested in her if she wasn't pretty? What happens when she is older and she loses her looks or if I lose my looks? Or if some tragedy happens and someone loses their physical beauty? Will you stick around? Is physical beauty what keeps you in a relationship?
"I thought back to philosophy and aesthetics from freshman year, but
realized that I didn't remember anything from that class because it was
at 8:00 a.m. "
hahahaha! So true!