Human beauty
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | :''[[Love and Love Sickness: The Science of Sex, Gender Difference and Pair-bonding]]'' | + | :''[[physical attractiveness]], [[female beauty]]'' |
| + | The characterization of a person as “beautiful”, whether on an individual basis or by community consensus, is often based on some combination of ''[[Inner Beauty]]'', which includes psychological factors such as [[personality]], [[intelligence]], [[grace]], [[politeness]], [[charisma]], [[integrity]], [[congruence]] and [[elegance]], and ''Outer Beauty'', (i.e. [[physical attractiveness]]) which includes physical factors, such as [[health]], [[youthfulness]], [[facial symmetry]], [[averageness]], and [[complexion]]. | ||
| - | '''Human bonding''' refers to the development of a close, [[interpersonal relationship]] between [[family member]]s or [[friend]]s. Bonding is a mutual, [[social interaction|interactive]] process, and is not the same as simple [[liking]]. | + | Standards of beauty are always evolving, based on what a culture considers valuable. Historical paintings show a wide range of different standards for beauty. However, humans who are relatively young, with smooth skin, well-proportioned bodies, and regular features, have traditionally been considered to be the most beautiful throughout history. |
| - | The term is from the 12th century, [[Middle English]] word ''band'' or ''band'', which refers to something that binds, ties, or restrains. In early usage, a bondman, bondwoman, or bondservant was a feudal serf that was obligated to serve his or her lord without pay. In modern usage, a bondsman is a person who provides [[Bail bond|bonds]] or [[surety]] for someone. | + | A strong indicator of physical beauty is "[[averageness]]," or "[[koinophilia]]." When images of human faces are averaged together to form a composite image, they become progressively closer to the "ideal" image and are perceived as more attractive. This was first noticed in 1883, when [[Francis Galton]], cousin of [[Charles Darwin]], overlaid photographic composite images of the faces of [[vegetarian]]s and [[criminal]]s to see if there was a typical facial appearance for each. When doing this, he noticed that the composite images were more attractive compared to any of the individual images. |
| - | Bonding typically refers to the process of [[attachment theory|attachment]] that develops between romantic partners, close friends, or parents and children. This bond is characterized by [[emotions]] such as [[affection]] and [[trust (social sciences)|trust]]. Any two people that spend time together may form a bond. | + | Researchers have replicated the result under more controlled conditions and found that the computer generated, mathematical average of a series of faces is rated more favorably than individual faces. Evolutionarily it makes logical sense that sexual creatures should be attracted to mates who possess predominantly common or average features. |
| - | [[Male bonding]] refers to the establishment of relationships between men through shared activities that often exclude females. The term [[female bonding]] is less frequently used, but refers to the formation of close personal relationships between women. | + | A feature of [[beautiful women]] that has been explored by researchers is a [[waist-to-hip ratio]] of approximately 0.70. Physiologists have shown that women with [[Female body shape|hourglass figures]] are more fertile than other women due to higher levels of certain female hormones, a fact that may subconsciously condition males choosing mates. |
| - | ==Etymology== | ||
| - | The term is from the 12th century, [[Middle English]] word ''band'' or ''band'', which refers to something that binds, ties, or restrains. In early usage, a bondman, bondwoman, or bondservant was a feudal serf that was obligated to work for his or her lord without pay (in modern usage, a bondsman is a person who provides [[Bail bond|bonds]] or [[surety]] for someone). | ||
| - | ==Early views== | + | People are influenced by the images they see in the media to determine what is or is not beautiful. Feminists and doctors have suggested that the ultra-skinny models featured in magazines promote [[eating disorders]], and [[internalized racism]]. |
| - | ===Plato=== | + | |
| - | In the 4th century BC, the Greek philosopher [[Plato]] argued that [[love]] directs the bonds of [[human society]]. In his [[Symposium (Plato)|Symposium]], Eryximachus, one of the narrators in the dialog, states that love goes far beyond simple attraction to [[human beauty]]. He states that it occurs throughout the animal and plant [[kingdom (biology)|kingdoms]], as well as throughout the [[universe]]. Love directs everything that occurs, in the realm of the gods as well as that of humans (186a-b). | + | |
| - | Eyrximachus reasons that when various opposing elements such as wet and dry are "animated by the proper species of Love, they are in harmony with one another... But when the sort of Love that is crude and impulsive controls the seasons, he brings death and destruction" (188a). Because it is love that guides the relations between these sets of opposites throughout existence, in every case it is the higher form of love that brings harmony and cleaves toward the good, whereas the impulsive vulgar love creates disharmony. | + | The [[black is beautiful]] cultural movement sought to dispel this notion. 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. |
| - | Plato concludes that the highest form of love is the greatest. When love "is directed, in temperance and justice, towards the good, whether in heaven or on earth: happiness and good fortune, the bonds of human society, concord with the gods above- all these are among his gifts" (188d). | + | The concept of beauty in men is known as '[[bishōnen]]' in [[Japan]]. Bishōnen refers to males with distinctly [[Femininity|feminine]] features, physical characteristics establishing the standard of beauty in Japan and typically exhibited in their [[pop culture]] [[Japanese idol|idols]]. |
| - | === ''Ethics of Human Bondage or the Strength of the Emotions'' by Spinoza=== | + | === Inner beauty === |
| - | In the 1660s, the Dutch philosopher [[Spinoza]] writes, in his ''[[Ethics of Human Bondage or the Strength of the Emotions]]'', that the term “bondage” relates to the human infirmity in moderating and checking the emotions. That is, according to Spinoza ‘when a man is prey to his emotions, he is not his own master, but lies at the mercy of fortune.’ | + | '''[[Inner beauty]]''' is a concept used to describe the positive aspects of something that is not physically observable. |
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| - | === Goethe's ''Elective Affinities'' === | + | |
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| - | In 1809 [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]], in his classic novella ''[[Elective Affinities]]'', speaks of the ''marriage tie'' and by analogy shows how strong marriage unions are similar in character to that by which the particles of [[quicksilver]] find a unity together though the process of [[chemical affinity]]. Goethe’s novella, in its time, was regarded as treatise on chemical origins of love. Humans in passionate relationships, according to Goethe, are analogous to [[chemical reaction]]s. | + | |
| - | == See also == | + | |
| - | *[[Attachment theory]] | + | |
| - | *[[Fission-fusion society]] | + | |
| - | *[[Interpersonal relationship]] | + | |
| - | *[[Interpersonal ties]] | + | |
| - | *[[Monogamy]] | + | |
| - | *[[Propinquity]] | + | |
| - | *[[Relationship breakup]] | + | |
| - | *[[Weak ties]] | + | |
| + | While most species use physical traits and pheromones to attract mates, some humans claim to rely on the inner beauty of their choices. Qualities including kindness, sensitivity, tenderness or compassion, creativity and intelligence have been said to be desirable since antiquity. | ||
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Revision as of 23:37, 10 April 2010
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The characterization of a person as “beautiful”, whether on an individual basis or by community consensus, is often based on some combination of Inner Beauty, which includes psychological factors such as personality, intelligence, grace, politeness, charisma, integrity, congruence and elegance, and Outer Beauty, (i.e. physical attractiveness) which includes physical factors, such as health, youthfulness, facial symmetry, averageness, and complexion.
Standards of beauty are always evolving, based on what a culture considers valuable. Historical paintings show a wide range of different standards for beauty. However, humans who are relatively young, with smooth skin, well-proportioned bodies, and regular features, have traditionally been considered to be the most beautiful throughout history.
A strong indicator of physical beauty is "averageness," or "koinophilia." When images of human faces are averaged together to form a composite image, they become progressively closer to the "ideal" image and are perceived as more attractive. This was first noticed in 1883, when Francis Galton, cousin of Charles Darwin, overlaid photographic composite images of the faces of vegetarians and criminals to see if there was a typical facial appearance for each. When doing this, he noticed that the composite images were more attractive compared to any of the individual images.
Researchers have replicated the result under more controlled conditions and found that the computer generated, mathematical average of a series of faces is rated more favorably than individual faces. Evolutionarily it makes logical sense that sexual creatures should be attracted to mates who possess predominantly common or average features.
A feature of beautiful women that has been explored by researchers is a waist-to-hip ratio of approximately 0.70. Physiologists have shown that women with hourglass figures are more fertile than other women due to higher levels of certain female hormones, a fact that may subconsciously condition males choosing mates.
People are influenced by the images they see in the media to determine what is or is not beautiful. Feminists and doctors have suggested that the ultra-skinny models featured in magazines promote eating disorders, and internalized racism.
The black is beautiful cultural movement sought to dispel this notion. 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.
The concept of beauty in men is known as 'bishōnen' in Japan. Bishōnen refers to males with distinctly feminine features, physical characteristics establishing the standard of beauty in Japan and typically exhibited in their pop culture idols.
Inner beauty
Inner beauty is a concept used to describe the positive aspects of something that is not physically observable.
While most species use physical traits and pheromones to attract mates, some humans claim to rely on the inner beauty of their choices. Qualities including kindness, sensitivity, tenderness or compassion, creativity and intelligence have been said to be desirable since antiquity.
