On Being Good Looking

I've mentioned before that although we all live in the same world we perceive it in such different ways that we may as well be living on different planets. A recent study (Hidden camera investigation: Do looks really matter?) found that people who are more attractive were treated differently, and this starts from an early age.

“A person's physical attractiveness -- the look that they're basically born with -- impacts every individual literally from birth to death,” says Dr. Gordon Patzer, dean of the College of Business Administration at Roosevelt University. He's spent 30 years studying and writing about physical attractiveness. “People are valued more who are higher in physical attractiveness. As distasteful at that might be, that's the reality.”

This difference affects our outlook and our assumptions. The attractive person becomes more self confident however, this self confidence maybe misplaced. The dumb blonde who thinks she is good at good at her job may get promoted – but not for the reason that she thinks. Similarly, the unattractive person’s lack of self confidence may be misplaced as well.

Would Princess Diana have been held in such high esteem as she was if she had not been so attractive? And compare the way she was perceived with her nemesis - Camilla Parker-Bowles. Attractive actresses are asked for their opinion but who asks the uglies?