Why is physical beauty important to human beings in the first place?

Almost every culture around the world has some standard of beauty for each gender.


Why is that?


Why do cultures have a standard of beauty?|||When one meets your standard of beauty, chances are more likely that they will meet other standards that are important to you as well. Most important, familiarity. Someone who conforms to the "beauty" standard of your culture is most likely OF your culture. So personal image is a quick (but certainly not infallible) way to determine if someone is worth getting to know just a little bit better.





By the way, beauty standards are not limited to humans. Many animal species have even stricter standards on "beauty" than humans do.|||Yes, Dentist was going in the right direction with that one. Your instinct tells you who is healthier and has more dominant/ well bred genes. Our instincts look for longevity in other human being.


Did you know that before you even say 'hi' to some one, all of your senses have already reacted. Including scent. People use scent to mate, oddly enough. (Unlike dogs we don't walk up and sniff eachother's ***, haha) But it's something that goes on in our brain before we even realize it.


If, however you did mean this in more of a philosophical way. Every one has different ideas of beauty. And certain cultures look for things in other people that will preserve their culture or race. So if someone is traditional looking to your race, you're more likely to be attracted to them. I'm sorry but it all goes back to science. The type of beauty that you're talking about in girls is tall, thin, nice bust and big hips, model-like. Right? Well let me give you an example of why men find that attractive without even knowing why. Tall = good genes. Thin = Healthy. Nice bust and big hips = Child bearing worthy. Model-like = could be wealthy, good preservation, wanted by others. All natural human instincts for having the best mate.








Honestly, this question should have been in psychology, not philosophy. hahah|||Genetically, men and women are (supposedly) hardwired to seek out a physically attractive mate, for purposes of reproduction and protection - as in, men with broad shoulders and square jaws are physically strong and will be fertile and will take care of their partner; women with hourglass figures and large breasts are perceived as young, fertile, and able to birth and take care of children easily.





Otherwise, the standards rose out of each culture's beliefs and lifestyles, and often in pure superficiality.|||Same reason all the five senses are programmed to be attracted to whatever they find appealing to them. Although this is one factor, it's also true that the media programs our minds through movies and television, making us believe what's in style, who's sexier than who, what's cool and what's not, etc.


If I were around 15 years old I'd probably wanna look like Justin Beiber, if I were 30 I'd probably wanna look like Brad Pitt.


Just imagine if nobody watched MTV or anything on tv or in theaters, the whole world would see beauty as an entirely different thing! I'm almost 100% sure it would be seen for what it truly is, and there would be no confusion within your thoughts of what you find beautiful, and what you find not to be.|||It use to be that women were judges on 'breeding' i.e. big breasts meant good milkers for children ... big hips meant easier birthing ...et cetera





Then as man's lifestyle improved ... women were objects to be used for sexual pleasure and then let go to drift in the common currents of apathy ...





NOW women have to reach for the stars in SO MANY ways that perfection is impossible but men have driven the female to this level of impossibility because males now fear that the tables are being turned on them and they shall have to march to the tune that females will play ...|||It's important because it's good, and what's good is always important, especially to beings who, by nature, desire good- i.e. human beings.|||Some people find animals (like horses) attractive...





Physical beauty isn't the decisive determiner for some (not me included though).|||dentist hs answer is pretty much what id say


its about evolution, the best 'looking' is the most 'healthy' to evolution, so ergo its inour biology to want and need a person we find attractive|||1.recreation


2. re-creation|||It makes Victoria's Secret very profitable. %26lt;}:-})|||Thats just the way the world is. Superficial.


It's the first thing that attracts poeple.|||it is inherent in our genes to want successful offspring.