Why Are People Judged on Physical Appearance?

Survival

Scientific research suggests that opinions based on looks alone have been present since ancient man. Much of this strategy is based on fear and the avoidance of that which may be dangerous. Looks are the first criteria we have to assess a person. In prehistoric survival situations, one had no time to stop and communicate with another person to decide if he was a threat or not. Decisions had to be made immediately. We tend to respond better to people who look like us, and early humans who avoided something or someone that was unfamiliar also avoided injury or death in many instances. The populations of early man likely had much less variation in appearance and behavior than the human cultures of today. Thus, differences were particularly salient. Those who looked unfamiliar and were thus possibly hostile members of other groups provoked a defensive response.

Reproductive Success

Most of what is considered attractive is directly related to physical attributes that indicate health. Facial symmetry indicates lack of disease and deformity. Large breasts, clear skin, proportionate bodies, wide eyes, full lips and color in the cheeks are indicators that a woman is healthy, well-fed and able to deliver and raise many children. For men, well-defined muscles, strong features and a tall stature indicate that the man is able to protect his family and be successful in providing resources. The primary motivators in early man were survival and reproduction. Communication was limited, so there weren't other methods to judge a person's character or suitability for mating. Medicine was almost nonexistent, so people didn't understand medical conditions or how to treat them. Partner choice was more about having babies than having someone to talk to and enjoy activities with. Thus, looks were of the utmost importance in choosing a person to help meet those goals.

Modern Considerations

Certainly, most human populations are now less concerned with survival and reproduction than they were in early human history. But our responses to others have been passed down through time. This transmission may be cultural or somewhat biological. In any case, modern justifications persist for ancient judgments. Someone who looks "creepy" may in fact be dangerous, and the avoidance of such a person may save a life. In this case, judging on physical appearances can be a positive. We value youth and beauty, and often take these attributes as indicators that a person is smart, capable, successful, honest and friendly. Obviously, this is not always the case. A potential employer may form an erroneous impression that a person who is older or overweight is lazy, slow and unable to handle to demands of the job. In fact, one such candidate may be the best person for the job. Luckily, unlike ancient humans, we can now say that these impressions are only our first impressions, not our only impressions. We must be aware of our human predisposition toward forming impressions based on looks and fight to judge people according to better criteria.