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PubMed · 9468878

Improving self-esteem by improving physical attractiveness.

Abstract

Many characteristics comprise a person's personality: achievement orientation, interest to be sociable, aggressiveness, need for order, disposition, and so on. One of the most important personality characteristics in every person's life is self-esteem, which can be defined in terms of cognitive generalizations derived from past experiences. Since people are not isolated from their environment, a person's experiences impact his or her self-esteem. Since a person's physical attractiveness is known to be a major factor in his or her experiences, it is logical (as well as empirically documented) to be a substantial influence on self-esteem. The research shows that improving a physical trait improves attitude, personality, and self-esteem. Likewise, improving physical attractiveness improves interpersonal interactions. These more positive interactions are internalized intrapersonally (within a person), with direct, corresponding impact on the person's self-esteem.

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BibTeXRIS

G L Patzer. 1997. Improving self-esteem by improving physical attractiveness.. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1708-8240.1997.tb00915.x

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Phenotypic differences between male physicians, surgeons, and film stars: comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that, on average, male surgeons are taller and better looking than male physicians, and to compare both sets of doctors with film stars who play doctors on screen. DESIGN: Comparative study. SETTING: Typical university hospital in Spain, located in Barcelona and not in a sleepy backwater. PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 12 surgeons and 12 physicians plus 4 external controls (film stars who play doctors), matched by age (50s) and sex (all male). INTERVENTIONS: An independent committee (all female) evaluated the "good looking score" (range 1-7). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Height (cm) and points on the good looking score. RESULTS: Surgeons were significantly taller than physicians (mean height 179.4 v 172.6 cm; P=0.01). Controls had significantly higher good looking scores than surgeons (mean score 5.96 v 4.39; difference between means 1.57, 95% confidence interval 0.69 to 2.45; P=0.013) and physicians (5.96 v 3.65; 2.31, 1.58 to 3.04; P=0.003). Surgeons had significantly higher good looking scores than physicians (4.39 v 3.65; 0.74; 0.25 to 1.23; P=0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Male surgeons are taller and better looking than physicians, but film stars who play doctors on screen are better looking than both these groups of doctors. Whether these phenotypic differences are genetic or environmental is unclear.

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