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Where did the stereotype come That kind of thinking is
faulty. I am not bothered that
this is common, but I know
that not all good-looking
people are good and smart.
Beauty doesn't really connect
with friendliness and talent.
Where did that stereotype
originate from? How did it
become widespread?
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Well ... here's a start. Beauty is naturally associated with health... An individual with their teeth falling out apparently can't grasp oral hygiene ... so why should their appearance be associated with intelligence? Etc, etc. Someone who knows how to dress ... knows how to dress better than someone who doesn't. So their intelligence as far as that goes is apparently higher. So, score +1 on intelligence. ... an individual with a brighter, prettier smile is naturally associated with being more approachable... therefore considered nicer. I'd say it all boils down to a given ... someone who appears to know how to take care of themselves better in the short and long term is thought of more positively, naturally. |
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This has always been a general truth even in nature. Beauty indicates genetic health which indicates intelligence. This does not mean that a good looking person will have a higher I.Q. than a unattractive one. But a deformed face might indicate a person is inbred which probably means they have a lower I.Q. which indicates that they would not be good mates. |
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Do you want the hard truth? I've learned that are beauty standards that we have today in America came from slavery with Europeans beliefs that they were better. From then to present time blond hair and blue eyes were seen as beautiful. Also supposedly the lighter your skin the more beautiful and intelligent you are (especially for African Americans). Have you ever read the Bluest Eye? It explains in depth about the dominate cultures perception of beauty now and how it evolved. Also the Nazis believed that blond hair and blue eyes were the only favorable traits to have. That's why they hurt so many Jewish, black and German people who did not fit into their perception of beauty or the “pure Aryan race." What is ironic is that even Hitler did not have blue eyes and blond hair. He was setting standards that he himself did not fulfill. It crazy but this thinking still exists in our society today. Just research the topic and you will see. Also look at history and you will understand. |
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There is a more common stereotype that beautiful women are shallow and not intelligent. |
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Nice looking people can be nice because life is going a little smoother for them. As mentioned above, it has a lot to do with health. We have a built in instinct to be attracted to people that seem to be healthy. We are afraid of disease and healthy looking means more possible of disease free-body and mind. It is survival instinct and we never really get "over" this type of thought, it is millions of years old. If you think that your looks are more of a hinder than a help then you should always try to dress well and be clean looking. Charm can cancel out instincts, why it seems to be a type of magic. |
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