From the Guidelines
Improvements in physical appearance, grooming, and self-presentation, particularly those that enhance confidence and positive body image, can significantly increase a person's rated attractiveness. To enhance perceived attractiveness, it is essential to focus on maintaining good personal hygiene, adopting a skincare routine appropriate for your skin type, and finding a hairstyle that complements your facial features 1. Regular exercise, as discussed in the context of bariatric surgery and body contouring, contributes to both physical fitness and confidence, while proper nutrition supports healthy skin, hair, and overall appearance 1. Clothing choices that fit well and complement your body type can make a substantial difference in how others perceive you. Beyond physical aspects, positive body language, good posture, and genuine smiling increase attractiveness, as do confidence and a positive attitude. Social skills and showing interest in others also enhance interpersonal attraction. These factors work together because attractiveness is determined by a combination of physical features, self-presentation, and behavioral traits that signal health, confidence, and social competence to others.
Key aspects to consider for improving rated attractiveness include:
- Maintaining good physical health through regular exercise and proper nutrition
- Enhancing self-presentation through appropriate grooming and clothing choices
- Developing positive body language and social skills
- Fostering a positive and confident attitude towards oneself and others
- Addressing any body image concerns or dysmorphic disorders through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, such as exposure and response prevention (ERP) and mirror retraining 1.
It is crucial to approach these improvements with a focus on overall well-being and self-acceptance, rather than solely striving for physical attractiveness. By prioritizing confidence, positive body image, and social competence, individuals can enhance their rated attractiveness while also improving their mental and emotional health.
From the Research
Factors Influencing Physical Attractiveness
- Physical attractiveness is influenced by various factors, including appearance, clothing, and personality traits 2
- Self-ratings of attractiveness are inflated by self-esteem and confidence in self-halo effects, while partner-ratings are inflated by love and relationship satisfaction in partner-halo effects 2
- Positive responses from others influence attractiveness-enhancing cycles, while negative responses influence attractiveness-deprecating cycles, with impacts on well-being 2
Role of Physical Attractiveness in Adjustment
- Physical attractiveness influences adjustment through a three-stage process: differential responses in others, differential treatment, and differential adjustment 3
- Attractiveness accounts for 6% to 16% of the variance in measures of subjective adjustment as well as sociometric and behavioral measures of interpersonal adjustment 3
Improving Physical Attractiveness
- Improving physical attractiveness can improve self-esteem, attitude, and personality 4
- Improving physical traits can lead to more positive interpersonal interactions, which can in turn improve self-esteem 4
- Self-perceived attractiveness is positively related to self-esteem, and this relationship is mediated by self-perceptions of romantic desirability 5