[Samoan Corleone]

I'm not just wondering about them having an easier time picking up a mate, but would a physically attractive person have an easier time applying for jobs (not just modeling jobs), gaining trust, etc? Also, I'm aware of the subjectivity in this matter so, for the sake of definition, "physically attractive" means to not be overweight and to have facial symmetry or whatever it is the media says makes for an attractive face.

This thread was inspired by
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.

As shown in the above link, "physically attractive" people are also perceived to be vain and to have dull personalities, which shows that their looks don't always work in their favour.

[Pachystima]

In the limited amount of reading I have done on the subject, the consensus is that physically attractive people have an advantage when it comes to getting jobs and promotions and being trusted. I can't just now give any references but I am quite sure that this facet of human behavior is well recognized and could easily be documented.

[themuzicman]

I would say that physically attractive people face a different, however not necessarily easier, set of problems, compared to the rest.

But because everyone wants to have what physically attractive people tend to get, it is assumed that they are on easy street.

[admittedheretic]

	Originally Posted by themuzicman To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I would say that physically attractive people face a different, however not necessarily easier, set of problems, compared to the rest.

Like what?

[themuzicman]

Depending on how they present themselves, either expectations of leadership and greatness or supreme confidence and competency, or (in the case of blond types), the assumption that they are all looks and no brain.

Look at how people think that movie stars are somehow smart enough to be able to speak authoritatively on scientific subjects. That kind of thing.

(And the assumption that Drew Barrymore is a ditz.)

[admittedheretic]

I get where your coming from, but I would say that those are without question lesser problems.

[LionsPride]

Yes, attractive people have it easier and there have been many studies that have found that to be the case. If studies aren't your thing, there was a story done by
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in terms of hidden cameras and seeing how much extra help the attractive people got over the unattractive. I thought it was interesting and true to what I have seen.

Originally Posted by dateline story

“A person's physical attractiveness -- the look that they're basically born with -- impacts every individual literally from birth to death,” says Dr. Gordon Patzer, dean of the College of Business Administration at Roosevelt University. He's spent 30 years studying and writing about physical attractiveness. “People are valued more who are higher in physical attractiveness. As distasteful at that might be, that's the reality.”

[eibuos]

Yes, without a doubt. People are nicer, they go out of their way to help you, etc. You get invited more places. On an episode of 30 Rock they called it "the bubble".

Of course there is a downside, but I think the upside more than makes up for it. This is not to say that they don't have the same problems that unattractive people have, they do but life in general is made easy for them by others.

[MyOtherSelf]

You don't necessarily get treated better, you do receive more attention overall, both negative and positive. But no one actually cares about you more. Besides having the luxury of being more likely to be paired with an attractive mate, there are few benefits that really make life easier, IMO.

I have ugly duckling syndrome so I have experienced both ends. It's interesting to have that perspective, though it is a little bit depressing. Looks count for so much more than they should in a rational world.

[Vagrant]

I don't know. I'm told I'm physically attractive, but I've recognized it as the "generically attractive" category. I blend really well with any crowd.

That said, I'm fairly sure it has helped me gain the trust of people a lot more quickly. I seem to be able to garner the trust of people quickly by comparison to many of my friends.

[Dru]

i believe they do, yes. people are more predisposed to like people who are generally viewed as attractive.

my friend and i were pulled over once for something we should have gotten a ticket for, or at the very least a warning, but we smiled and chatted with the officer, and he let us go without even that.

[SelfMadeBum]

Hundreds of students stop by my window at the computer centre for help with various things. More attractive people expect special treatment - they smile, cajole, etc. and think that being cute will get them some advantage.

It doesn't work with me, but the expectation is clear.

[Samoan Corleone]

I've been called "handsome" more than a few times. I can't say if my alleged "looks" have gotten me a free meal that wouldn't have gone to someone viewed as less attractive, or anything. I don't think I'd notice a difference until I go outside with a pillow under my shirt, no moisturiser on my face, and big, pointy prosthetic ears; similar to the experiment conducted in the book
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.

[liquidzilla]

Well good looking people usually have more confidence and so are usually more successful at job interviews and have better social skills. If they are good looking and shy they would be like any other shy person when it came to an interview. You can also become more attractive by having confidence.

[Guybrush]

People tell me I am attractive. I haven’t noticed many advantages in my life. Perhaps it helps me attract women despite being introverted but that’s about it.

I actually resent the extra attention when I am in public.

[MikeC]

Yes. My siblings take a very pragmatic approach to bank on this.

My better-looking brothers (though no less smarter) liase with our clients and supply chain partners, while I am quite happy crunching numbers halfway around the world to redistribute capital between our held companies. Couldn't have worked better for us, and it is a fact of life that we find counter-beneficial to deny.

Of course, I always ask myself how far can nature affect one's personality? If I had been a cute kid, would all the received attention develop me into a more extroverted person? Would appearing friendlier as a kid brought more friends instead of spending time alone with books and musical instruments?

[TigerL]

Somewhat. Being attractive might give you an initial advantage e.g. bigger pool of mates to pick from and get you easier access to influential people but then you have to back it up with other personality traits. In my area of work, if you can't do the job it doesn't really matter how pretty you are.

That said, I have been the sidekick to more than one fabulous looking girl friend and have dated some conventionally handsome men and have seen the favors they are able to procure by flirting.

I like being average-looking. I think people in general are more comfortable around me and when people are attracted, I know it's not based mostly on how I look - would rather someone like me for my personality.

I think the effects are more noticeable if you are on the other end - i.e. you have an asymmetric face and are below-average looking.

I also read an interesting study a while back talking about how women tend to downgrade their looks while men tend to think they look better than they are using objective measures of symmetry.

[ZincLysine]

Yeh. People assume stuff about you from how you look. Its like a marketing signal. If you're overweight, you're assumed to be lazy or unconfident. If you're slim and weedy, people assume you're a push over. If you're in the middle, well built, people assume you're confident and powerful. If you're tall, people assume you're a natural leader because they (physically) look upto you.

When I was in shape, I got all sorts of offers I never got when I was fat. People offered me spots on the radio, assumed I was cool, invited me to all sorts of secret network events that I never had access to when I chubb munster.

Get in shape/Stay in shape. You have it easier that way.

[Sk8ordude]

I think it is benificial for more less social introverted people to be attractive, but personality and intelligence are also important factors and canmore then make the difference for an average looking person if the attractive person is lacking in those areas.

However if you have all three going for you, the odds are good that you will do better then somone lacking in one or all three catagories given that these are the only variables that are much different.

[Thinker]

Being attractive definitely has benefits. (Note I would not count myself as attractive).

The number of opportunities given to people is a function of the number of positive interactions we have with other human beings. Attractive people have more opportunity because they have more positive interactions with others.

Of course as others have said above attractiveness is not the only determinant, but it is a very strong variable. There are many other variables including luck.

The benefits are both in a social and professional/career context, although, I think that attractiveness has less of an impact in your career the more senior you are.

In relationships as has been said on this forum ad infinitum, dating/relationships is a numbers game. Attractive people have much better numbers.
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[jonam87]

Yes I would agree that "physically attractive" people have it easier. Not a ginormous advantage, but I think someone who is less appealing (according to our cultural standards) has to show more inner strength than someone who is "easier on the eyes" of an interviewer. If an interview was modeled on a point system, being attractive would simply add a few extra points to your tally. The field of work is a sure factor as well, an employer may be even more scrutinizing on an interviewee if the job generally involves dealing with servicing others. As foolish and ignorant as that may be, it seems to be an occurrence in our society.

[kepstein8888]

I think it's more about charisma than physical attractiveness.

I've seen attractive people who everybody hated, not necessarily because they were bitchy, vain, or high-maintenance. I've seen ugly people who everybody loved, and even found attractive.

Charisma is rare, but doesn't discriminate based on physical appearance, income, class, weight, or any other factor. Either you have it, or you don't. And it doesn't go away when get old and wrinkly.

It's quite fascinating to see how charisma transcends all of those things, and how people are drawn to people with it. They just show up at their door, thinking they have all the answers, or just to be around them.

As many have mentioned, being pretty is a mixed bag that can often go either way, depending on who you're dealing with. If you find a lamp with a genie in it, don't ask for looks. Ask for charisma. Better to be Julia Child than Paris Hilton.

[Samoan Corleone]

Charisma is dependent on vibes, so perhaps it's a more iNtuitive thing, whereas physical beauty would typically be more effective in endearing a person to a Sensor.

[catzmeow]

It largely depends upon the context. When I was lobbying legislators for certain projects, the fact that I was cute & blond was definitely a help. I guarantee that a lot of the male legislators would prefer to meet with a charming woman than to meet with another crusty, cigar-smoking old male lobbyist. So, that was a help.

In my job, it has a tendency to make people underestimate me. I have what I'd call a cute, bubbly personality. People tend to take that at face value, and assume that's all there is.

For me, at least, being attractive didn't occur until I went to college. So, I spent most of my formative years being very average-looking, and having to focus on developing my insides, especially my brains. I was shy, so I spent a lot of time alone, reading books & studying. It sucked at the time, but it forced me to develop some depth that I note is sometimes lacking in people who are too attractive, too early in life. They start relying on their looks, rather than their brains, to succeed. And, they sometimes lack empathy, because things tend to be handed to you in high school when you're pretty.

Because I work in a male-dominated field, I'd have to say that being attractive has been far more of a help than it has been a hindrance. Men tend not to see me as a threat until it's too late.
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[invicta]

As far as interviews go, I think that people at the "10" end of the scale might not have it as easy as 7s, 8s or 9s, because there is still something relatable to the rest of the population as a 7, 8 or 9. Women who are 10s are often resented by other women, and men might not want the implication that they hired them only for reasons of sexual attraction.

I also think that 8s get more dates than 10s because most people can see an 8 as being either in their league, or close enough to take the chance.