The Concept of Beauty
Beauty is often defined as a subjective feature of objects which makes these objects enjoyable to see. Such objects may be works of art, landscapes, sunsets and humans. Beauty, along with personal preference, is probably the most influential topic of aesthetics, among the major branches of psychology. It is also one of the most controversial topics in today’s society due to its strong cultural and social impact.
In psychological terms, beauty is considered to be an inner state of harmony and well-being. According to the latest research on the factors that affect the aesthetic value of human beings, the five basic factors of beauty are facial symmetry, body shape, hair length, skin texture, and the central features of a face or figure (such as lips, nose, eyes, and chin). Thus, these factors help to define the physical beauty of a person. Another factor that affects the subjective beauty of a person is his or her socioeconomic status. Other than physical factors, the extent of personal grooming and the extent of a person’s ability to alter their appearance according to their personal needs and preferences also affect the level of beauty.
The psychological meaning of beauty is based on the idea that human beauty has an important social meaning. According to this view, human beauty is the product of the interplay between physical appearance and social behavior. For example, the cultural meaning of beauty is different in different cultures, regions, and times. Thus, the cultural significance of physical appearance varies across time and space. Moreover, the idea of inner beauty lies in the fact that people are attracted to others that they find both physically and emotionally attractive.
According to the psychological meaning of human beauty, some characteristics that appear in nature are considered to be important for the creation of beautiful human beings. According to the character Expressionist theory, the aesthetic appreciation of the natural beauty of a person originates from an inner necessity to create order in the universe. It is necessary for the survival of society and the individual. Thus, the physical appearance of a person is seen as an imperative for social recognition and approval. This explains why people dress up nicely, why people use cosmetics in order to appear more attractive and why people want to have their faces photographed to make them look more appealing.
One of the major reasons behind the universal beauty standard is that physical appearance contributes to one’s personality. Beauty is directly linked to personality. People with similar facial structures tend to look alike. Thus, an individual’s appearance can provide him with a certain level of self-confidence. Similarly, individuals with very similar facial appearances are usually found to have similar levels of personality.
However, beauty is not limited to physical appearance. In fact, it is equally important to consider one’s sense of touch, smell, hearing, taste and touch. Each of these faculties contributes to a person’s richness and thus his richness of life. It should be noted that the concept beauty encompasses all of these faculty as well and not just any body part or feature could make an attractive person look like another. The perception of beauty therefore, involves more than just physical appearance and it is this perception which determines an individual’s worthiness and social acceptance.