Being beautiful and the compulsion to have cosmetic procedures is about more than just good looks. According to research a phenomenon known as the “halo effect”, people who are physically blessed are also bestowed with lots of internal positive qualities by those around them.
In effect, good-looking people are considered to be healthier, nicer, smarter and more trustworthy, while others feel more disposed to help them. Employers are more likely to take them over another applicant, all other things being equal. Beautiful people tend to have greater success at work and are better paid.
The connection was first established by American psychologist Edward L. Thorndike, who provided a wide range of research to back up the halo effect in a study published in 1920. In it he asked a group of commanding officers to rate the soldiers in their charge. He established that there was an unconscious bias towards seeing the individuals as either entirely good or bad, the perception of one particular trait can influence the perception of that person as a whole. As a person’s physical appearance is usually the first major trait people pick up on, this is often the most influential and why celebrities and models are used to endorse products. This does not mean that negatives attributes are not taken into account, it just means that more attractive people tend to be given the benefit of the doubt more readily.
It is understandable that in our modern, competitive world people who want to get ahead often turn to cosmetic surgery to give that extra boost. Botox, dermal fillers, and laser treatments have made it possible to put you best face forward.
