Observe your friends and coworkers. It’s likely that those who stand out for their attractiveness also exhibit intelligence and undeniable charm.
They seem to have doors magically opening for them. People eagerly offer assistance, and these fortunate individuals encounter significantly fewer obstacles compared to the rest of us.
While it may seem unjust, being born good-looking or handsome provides a distinct advantage. The likelihood increases for them to develop charisma, confidence, and sex appeal… potentially leading to earnings that are up to 20 percent higher.
How do I possess this knowledge? As a social scientist, I have discovered evidence from a multitude of academic studies that consistently lead to the same astonishing conclusion: individuals who are both socially and physically attractive gain a significant edge in life.
They tend to achieve greater success, enjoy more fulfilling sex lives, possess greater persuasive abilities, are less prone to depression, attract both sexes, and may even exhibit slightly higher intelligence.
All this beauty! It can be enough to leave an average-looking woman grinding her slightly misaligned teeth.
Fortunately, attractiveness is a skill that can be cultivated… requiring effort and commitment just like any other skill.
You might not achieve the perfect symmetry and flawless skin that are often associated with beauty, but you can certainly develop other appealing qualities.
At the core of true attractiveness lies what I refer to as erotic capital. This asset has frequently been overlooked amidst the rush to evaluate individuals’ economic capital (what they own and earn), social capital (the connections they have), and human capital (the knowledge they possess).
Erotic capital encompasses beauty, sex appeal, charisma, social skills, sexual competence, and an aptitude for dressing well. In essence, it represents a critical combination of physical and social allure.
Consider someone like Madonna. Although she may not be the epitome of conventional beauty, with her average voice, she has
transformed into arguably the most renowned woman globally, undeniably compelling and successful.
Then take a look at Victoria Beckham. Despite her snub nose and notoriously problematic skin, it’s hard to argue that she exemplifies classical beauty. Yet, she was part of one of the world’s top girl bands, married a handsome and accomplished man, and reinvented herself as a style icon.
Think also of Jennifer Aniston, Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Simon Cowell, Barack and Michelle Obama, glamour model Katie Price (aka Jordan), heiress Paris Hilton, and even Renee Zellweger. While they might seem like a mismatched group, they all share a charisma and success that surpasses their often quite average appearances.
It is true that those naturally endowed with beauty are more likely to possess this advantage from the very beginning. As infants and young children, they receive more warmth and attention, both from family members and strangers alike.
These attractive children are often the ones who are fussed over, showered with affection, offered treats and gifts, assisted in times of need, and forgiven more easily for their mischief. Even professional caregivers, such as nannies and nursery workers, perceive six-month-old babies differently based on their attractiveness. Moreover, among their peers, it’s typically the good-looking children who become the most popular.
This kind of favorable attention has lasting impacts on children’s personalities, accelerating their intellectual development.“`html
and social development.
Indeed, a significant 75 per cent of good-looking children are perceived as well-adjusted, socially appealing, and competent, in contrast to only 25 per cent of those deemed unattractive.
This observation is entirely logical. If you are surrounded by the warmth and kindness of others during your upbringing, the world appears friendlier. Enveloped in a sort of golden glow, you find it simpler to engage with people, capture attention, and attain your desires.
One study indicates that attractive girls in secondary school not only have a higher likelihood of marriage but also tend to enjoy a greater household income 15 years down the line.
Moreover, their attractiveness generally does not diminish over time. Research shows that an appealing 21-year-old is likely to remain “attractive” throughout various stages of life, even beyond the age typically associated with physical beauty.
Should all average-looking women rush to save for cosmetic surgery, then? A psychotherapist does suggest that enhancing the features of those deemed unattractive could make them more popular than years of therapy might achieve.
However, very few need to contemplate such drastic measures. The French, for instance, have long acknowledged that a woman can greatly enhance her attractiveness through her presentation, giving rise to the term jolie laide, or pretty-ugly woman.
In my 20s, I took full advantage of complimentary makeup lessons offered by major cosmetic brands, rapidly gaining the expertise I desired.
Learning social etiquette, good manners, color coordination, and dressing styles is accessible to anyone—not least through self-help literature and magazines. Similarly, anyone can strive to smile more frequently, just as naturally beautiful individuals do, inviting the world to smile back.
A jolie laide may require more time to develop her erotic capital, but she can ultimately achieve the same success as a woman who begins with an advantageous position and an easier journey. This perspective does not align with hard-line feminism, however. For example, British lesbian political scientist Sheila Jeffreys argues that any woman attempting to enhance her appearance is a ‘cultural dope,’ manipulated by male-driven images in media and pornography.
Other feminists contend that it should be illegal for employers to consider a woman’s appearance in any capacity, even in cases of obesity. Nevertheless, it is widely recognized that obesity carries significant health risks. Obese individuals are less likely to marry, and if they do, their spouses tend to have lower incomes, often reflecting a general decrease in their own earnings.
Consequently, it’s not surprising that numerous young women find feminism to be relatively insignificant. The steady increase in the sales of cosmetics, fashion items, and cosmetic procedures indicates that rising affluence and daily realities wield greater influence than any feminist discourse.
Consciously or unconsciously, everyone is impacted by appearance. For instance, motorists are 25 per cent more inclined to assist an 
attractive woman with a flat tire compared to her less attractive counterpart. Men who have appealing girlfriends are assessed more favorably. The same holds for anyone, regardless of gender, who has attractive friends.
On average, attractive men and women experience double the number of dates and enjoy more active and fulfilling sex lives. Statistically, attractive women tend to have more successful marriages. When a wife possesses more erotic capital than her husband, their marriage is likely to be more mutually beneficial and supportive. Interestingly, research indicates that marriages tend to struggle when the husband is
“`More attractive than his wife.
Studies conducted by psychologists indicate that defendants who present themselves as attractive and well-dressed are less likely to be convicted of a crime, all other factors being equal. Additionally, they are less prone to being apprehended initially, reported if caught, or facing severe punishment when found guilty.
Continuing with the theme of crime, let’s examine the outcomes for physically attractive individuals after their release from prison. In a distinctive American study, convicts were divided into two factions of less attractive men.
In the first group, the men received vocational training along with years of therapy aimed at enhancing their social abilities. The second group lacked these benefits but underwent cosmetic surgery before being released.
After one year of freedom, those who had received cosmetic surgery demonstrated a significantly lower reoffending rate — 36 percent less than that of unattractive men who had not undergone therapy or surgery.
As for the unattractive men who received all the therapy and training? Their reoffending rate increased by 33 percent. What accounts for the better outcomes of those who had surgery? The advantages that come with beauty appear to be universal.
An attractive individual is often perceived as possessing social and intellectual competence, which influences how they are treated. This is true even if, just a year earlier, they were an unattractive prisoner in confinement.
However, one might question whether education always surpasses appearance in significance. Not necessarily.
The stark reality is that attractiveness impacts income levels comparably to education. This shift is partly due to the Western world’s movement away from agriculture and manufacturing towards roles that require interpersonal interaction. As we’ve noted, attractive individuals tend to be more persuasive, possess superior social skills, and exude charm. Consequently, they draw in more clients and customers, garner repeat business, and sell more products.
This explains why, as experts suggest, possessing erotic capital typically provides a salary increase of 15 to 20 percent. Additionally, it increases the likelihood of securing a job initially and receiving promotions later.
It’s important to point out that this does not imply women should immediately begin to reveal more skin at work.
Your erotic capital encompasses your ability to present yourself effectively, which includes choosing dress styles that suit the venue or situation.
In fact, candidates who may be less qualified but are well-groomed stand a better chance of being hired compared to those who are highly qualified but poorly groomed, even when interviewers claim they have downplayed appearance as a minor factor.
Interestingly, research consistently shows that a greater number of attractive individuals work in the private sector, where salaries are generally higher. In contrast, there seems to be a perception that public sector employees often make less effort regarding their appearance.
This may explain why the disheveled appearance and melancholy demeanor of certain government employees occasionally lead customers to feel undeservedly treated poorly.
It is futile to lament the societal value placed on erotic capital simply because beauty may be inherited. Intelligence, too, has a significant genetic component, yet bemoaning this fact is rarely seen as productive.
The wonderful aspect of erotic capital is that it can be cultivated by anyone. After all, good manners, a keen sense of dress, and social skills are not innate attributes granted at birth.
We all agree that investing ten or more years into education is prudent, often at substantial personal and public cost. While it may be a societal taboo to accept openly, the evidence suggests that dedicating time and effort towards enhancing our erotic capital makes just as much sense.
by Susan Floyd
