BEAUTY & the psyche

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”

Beauty, whether looking at a face, a painting or a natural landscape, is a very subjective experience. A moonlit lake may evoke romance to one person while another, perhaps adverse to water, may prefer the warmth of a rug beside a log fire. These differences in personal preferences can also be seen in our perception of physical attractiveness too.

Inside the brain the same areas are active when we judge something to be beautiful or displeasing. In the orbitofrontal cortex, our reward centre, activity is increased when we see something attractive while the activity in our motor cortex decreases. This activity is reversed when viewing something we find unattractive.

When viewing images of faces well balanced proportions tend to elicit positive responses from participants in scientific studies and these results have been replicated across cultures. The general conclusions for these outcomes suggest we have a biological bias that associates visual regularity with optimum functioning and disease resistance in a potential mate. Hmm, romantic!

One major problem with these studies is the diffusion of the subtleties of our individual feelings into wider group data. Large data sets decrease the specifics of experience and therefore is not a true reflection of personal preference. A scientific understanding of beauty is far from complete.

It’s fair to say that the brain enjoys patterns. It seems more comfortable when experiencing that which it expects. So while strong, standout features can be strikingly beautiful in their own right, balanced natural beauty will always be appreciated.

Not just a pretty face We have a natural tendency to attribute positive characteristics to attractive people. These subconscious assumptions associate inherent ‘goodness’ with things we find beautiful. Such automatic beliefs can hide the true nature of an individual from us.

Studies have shown that attractive people can fall foul of acts of subconscious jealous behaviour from others. For example, they may be less likely to get a job if interviewed by a same sex individual that perceives the potential recruit as more attractive than themselves. Other studies suggest attractiveness can intimidate people which can lead to the impression that these individuals are unapproachable. Beauty does not automatically mean popular, isolation and loneliness can be an issue. Makeup: Are you a highlighter or a concealer? Some ladies feel naked without their makeup on. Others save it only for special occasions. There are no hard and fast rules in our ever evolving culture. Makeup can help us feel more confident, sociable and assertive. We can use makeup to enhance our natural features and correct imperfections. However, it may be a good idea to check in with ourselves occasionally to ask ‘am I highlighting or hiding?’ Creating a psychological mask with your makeup will only hinder the ongoing process of personal development. Love and acceptance of the self is crucial. When appearance becomes an obsession Excessive time spent focusing on how we look maybe a warning sign that all is not well. Eating disorders have had a lot of media attention over the years but Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is not as well known. Individuals with Try not to be a slave to preconceptions and learnt beliefs. There is much more to us than our appearance. We may all benefit from holding back on those first impression judgments.

BDD characteristics can become preoccupied with real or imagined physical flaws in their appearance. Early signs may include excessively checking the mirror, focusing only on a defect or perceived flaw in photos or reflections, avoiding people or places and taking lots of selfies but not being happy with any of them. As this disorder progresses the individual may become further obsessed with changing their appearance. They may spend hours grooming or considering plastic surgery. In extreme cases this can negatively affect normal functioning in areas such as socialising, career and intimate relationships. Many aspects of modern society can contribute to the development of this disorder. The way that we communicate with each other is important here, a flippant comment or opinion may be difficult for an insecure individual to let go. We have a natural tendency to label things as good or bad, nice or nasty, pretty or ugly. Perhaps it’s time for a less opinionated society.

Just as Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so are the many assumptions that we come to about ourselves and others, consciously or otherwise. Try not to be a slave to preconceptions and learnt beliefs. There is much more to us than our appearance. We may all benefit from holding back on those first impression judgments.

Zoe Goodchild ADHP, PGDip Healthfare, 53 High Street, Tring. Zoe has 19 years experience in the health industry and is qualified in Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy and Clinical Neuroscience. She is the owner and manager of Healthfare, health store and well-being centre in Tring.