Beauty: Eye of the Beholder, or Groupthink?
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but recent studies using brain imaging suggest that beauty is defined by the collective.
Well, more broadly, research has suggested for decades that individuals tend to go along with the majority view, even when they don’t believe it or know it to be incorrect. Studies using brain imaging now support that theory.
A new study in the journal Neuron shows when people hold an opinion differing from others in a group, their brains produce an error signal. A zone of the brain popularly called the “oops area” becomes extra active, while the “reward area” slows down, making us think we are too different.
What is even more interesting, though, is the construct of one of the studies. Female participants are asked to rate the beauty of faces, and then compare their ratings to the average.
Participants, all female, had to rate 222 faces based on physical beauty on a scale from 1 to 8. Afterwards, researchers told each participant either that the average score was higher or that it was lower than her rating. Some participants were told the average rating was equal to her rating. The researchers then chatted with the participant before suddenly asking the participant to do the rating again. Most subjects changed their opinion toward the average.
Well, if we didn’t have enough working against us in the beauty and attraction department, now we learn that our brains are revolting, too. The implication of this is that if what we’re attracted to isn’t found in glossy magazine pages that many drool over, our brains will send an error message if we get an excited flutter at the sight of a BBW or a scrawny man.
Maybe it isn’t all that dire or that simple, but it does give some evidence as to why marketing is so easy. Or why it’s so hard to go home with that dorky guy that makes you laugh when your friends think he resembles an anorexic Big Bird. Perhaps, as the researchers suggest, belonging to the group is an adaptive feature; if so, let’s hope it’s going the way of the pinky.
Tags: beauty and psychology, beauty and science, beauty standards, HNT, standards of beauty
January 15th, 2009 at 11:56 am
that is very interesting, but I always pick personality over looks, everytime…..
you have such lovely underwear ,and the tattoo is simply awesome 
HHNT!
January 15th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Thanks! Yes, I’d like to think that I pick personality over looks, but the more you think of all the variables in attraction, the harder it is to separate “you” in the conscious, free-will sense from the “you” as conglomerate of biological and sociological influences. Always interesting to ponder, though . . .
January 15th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Wow my brain’s revolting too???? Sheesh, well I’ll enjoy the images as my brain fights for control and say I love the matching undies and the cute tat.
January 15th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Hmm….interesting.
But I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE that bra and panty set. I have serious lingerie envy. I am such a lingerie whore, lol!
January 15th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
That’s an interesting article. Though I rarely find anyone on the cover of a magazine to be anything to look at because my first wonderment is without all the makeup, glitz, glam, personal trainers, airbrushing and other crap, they likely wouldn’t be so hot. I go home with my big dorky guy every night we’re together and don’t care that most people don’t find him attractive. He’s the sexiest guy around if you ask me, lol. Still, that’s a very interesting concept and I can see how it applies. Great post!
Oh and wonderful picture! The lingerie looks very good on you. Happy HNT!
January 16th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Well I am in the majority who think that picture of you is sexy and beautiful - so there!
I know it’s Friday but Happy HNT anyway.