Psychology Of Appearance | Research History

Expanding the Guides’ series of academic publications we delve into the psychology of appearance with a first entry exploring its history of research. Adoption consistently broadening with the industry’s options, today tens of billions are spent annually on all manner of procedures. How tattooing or scarification compare in acceptability to say the whole series of mainstream often invasive cosmetic procedures is an intriguing yet rarely debated distinction. From an historical context the lines between subversive and conventional practices may be argued by some as entirely, subjectively arbitrary

| ‘Evidence for the fascination humans have with physical appearance comes from a rich variety of sources, including mythology and legends, anecdotes from history, fairy tales and a variety of contemporary sources. Examples of the interest we as a species take both in our own appearance and the way we present ourselves to others have been derived from as long as 30,000 years ago, when in Africa people chose to decorate their faces, and from examples of portraiture from 23,000 BC…

We are also preoccupied with our own appearance. The first true mirrors were made in 1460 by the Venetians, who worked out how to create clear glass. People enjoyed seeing themselves so much that this quickly turned into big business. The del Gallo brothers found out how to create a perfect reflection in 1507, but the Venetians managed to keep the knowledge to themselves for more than a century, despite the efforts of spies and diplomats from other countries who tried to discover their secret. We examine our own appearance thousands of times in our lives, and most of us respond to the urge to check out our reflection in shop windows or mirrors when the opportunity arises. The sight of our familiar appearance does much to reassure us about our identity; however, we are taken aback when our appearance does not conform to our own internalized self-image – for example when harsh lighting offers a version of ourselves which appears older than our internalized self-view, or when others claim that a photo we consider unflattering is in fact a good likeness. Physical changes to the body, and in particular the face, powerfully affect the way we experience ourselves and take some time to assimilate into our self-view.

This phenomenon is recognized by health care professionals who carefully manage the first post-operative glimpse in a mirror following major trauma or surgery. Those affected can be shocked for some time afterwards when catching sight of an unexpected image… Whatever our personal beliefs, most of us actively attempt to influence the way we look (for example, through our choice of clothing or hairstyle), either to conform to perceived norms of appearance, or out of a desire to express our individuality… | continue