The Science Behind Beauty
Some people go through great pains to look attractive, but is it really necessary? According to science, it is. So why is there a stigma surrounding plastic surgery? Why is plastic surgery any less than visiting a counselor? According to science, both methods of alteration aim at improving how others view you. In the following essay I will argue that, undergoing plastic surgery to modify the body and undergoing psychological counseling to modify the mind and spirit is morally the same. In both cases you are altering yourself to get social acceptance, both forms of alteration is not sustainable and may lead to further insecurities, and you use external services which are not accessible by everyone to attain what you …show more content…
During her time in MIT University, Etcoff finished her post-doctoral fellowship in Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Etcoff has since delivered speeches and wrote about the science of beauty, which she discusses in her most renowned book “The survival of the prettiest” (Etcoff 7). Etcoff’s thesis illustrates that we do not have an obsession with beauty due to the media’s constant conditioning of our minds, but that we are born with it (Etcoff 24). Etcoff believes that beauty is a “biological adaptation,” and supports her argument with scientific research (Etcoff 24). Etcoff explains that people who have proportional features and asymmetric faces are the ones who “[provoke] pleasure,” and “[capture] attention,” it is evident that we humans chose the most beautiful or “healthy” individuals to mate with to “[…] ensure the survival of our genes” (Etcoff …show more content…
With the introduction of Christianity, beauty became a vague topic (Etcoff 18). Rather than embracing the beauty that was created in the image of God, the priests decided that our bodies are nothing but vessels that need to be overcome so that our constant hunger for food, sleep, and sex can be oppressed (Etcoff 18). By oppressing these desires, we are able to worship God with our undivided attention (Etcoff 18). Thus, women are told to cover themselves up upon entering the Church (Etcoff 18). Monks meditate, try to eat and sleep as little as they can, and abstained from sexual pleasure (Etcoff 18). Overall the Christian attitude towards beauty was not positive since they feared it as a sensual temptation (Etcoff 18). However, they do view beauty as God’s Glory, and the more beautiful you are, the more Godlike you are (Etcoff 19). Etcoff reveals that within history our attitudes toward beauty has often intertwined with our religious and spiritual views (Etcoff
Some people go through great pains to look attractive, but is it really necessary? According to science, it is. So why is there a stigma surrounding plastic surgery? Why is plastic surgery any less than visiting a counselor? According to science, both methods of alteration aim at improving how others view you. In the following essay I will argue that, undergoing plastic surgery to modify the body and undergoing psychological counseling to modify the mind and spirit is morally the same. In both cases you are altering yourself to get social acceptance, both forms of alteration is not sustainable and may lead to further insecurities, and you use external services which are not accessible by everyone to attain what you …show more content…
During her time in MIT University, Etcoff finished her post-doctoral fellowship in Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Etcoff has since delivered speeches and wrote about the science of beauty, which she discusses in her most renowned book “The survival of the prettiest” (Etcoff 7). Etcoff’s thesis illustrates that we do not have an obsession with beauty due to the media’s constant conditioning of our minds, but that we are born with it (Etcoff 24). Etcoff believes that beauty is a “biological adaptation,” and supports her argument with scientific research (Etcoff 24). Etcoff explains that people who have proportional features and asymmetric faces are the ones who “[provoke] pleasure,” and “[capture] attention,” it is evident that we humans chose the most beautiful or “healthy” individuals to mate with to “[…] ensure the survival of our genes” (Etcoff …show more content…
With the introduction of Christianity, beauty became a vague topic (Etcoff 18). Rather than embracing the beauty that was created in the image of God, the priests decided that our bodies are nothing but vessels that need to be overcome so that our constant hunger for food, sleep, and sex can be oppressed (Etcoff 18). By oppressing these desires, we are able to worship God with our undivided attention (Etcoff 18). Thus, women are told to cover themselves up upon entering the Church (Etcoff 18). Monks meditate, try to eat and sleep as little as they can, and abstained from sexual pleasure (Etcoff 18). Overall the Christian attitude towards beauty was not positive since they feared it as a sensual temptation (Etcoff 18). However, they do view beauty as God’s Glory, and the more beautiful you are, the more Godlike you are (Etcoff 19). Etcoff reveals that within history our attitudes toward beauty has often intertwined with our religious and spiritual views (Etcoff