The Advantage of Being Attractive: Alex From Target

Donna・2 minutes read

Attractiveness plays a significant role in social media success, impacting job opportunities, promotions, and legal outcomes, with biases towards attractive individuals extending to perceptions of competency and success. The preference for beauty is prevalent from birth, influencing interactions, opportunities, and overall success based on physical appearance, as seen with the rise and challenges of internet sensation Alex from Target.

Insights

  • Attractiveness significantly impacts social media success, job opportunities, and perceptions of competence, intelligence, and success, creating a bias towards physically appealing individuals.
  • The study of Alex from Target highlights the power of physical appeal in gaining attention and fame, but also demonstrates the challenges and potential pitfalls of sudden celebrity status, emphasizing the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in career satisfaction beyond mere physical appearance.

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Recent questions

  • How did Audrey Hepburn rise to fame?

    Audrey Hepburn was discovered by author Colette Viola Ceste Gigi in a hotel lobby on the French Riviera, despite her limited acting experience. She was immediately cast as the lead in a Broadway musical upon being spotted by a casting director, propelling her to stardom.

  • What role did attractiveness play in Alex from Target's fame?

    The internet has revolutionized the possibility of instant fame, as seen with Alex from Target gaining viral fame solely based on his looks. His attractiveness played a significant role in garnering attention and a strong teenage girl fan base, showcasing the power of physical appeal in the digital age.

  • How has the concept of attractiveness evolved over time?

    Historical and cultural standards of beauty have evolved, with different preferences across various regions and time periods. The perception of attractiveness is influenced by factors such as facial symmetry and average faces, which play key roles in determining what is considered attractive.

  • What impact does attractiveness have on social media success?

    Attractiveness plays a significant role in social media success, impacting job opportunities, promotions, and even legal outcomes. Studies have shown that perceptions of competence, sociability, intelligence, and success are influenced by physical appearance, creating a bias towards attractive individuals.

  • What challenges did Alex from Target face after gaining fame?

    Despite initial fame, Alex from Target faced challenges in handling sudden celebrity status and was taken advantage of by his manager in the social media industry. The study on fashion models also revealed lower well-being and psychological need satisfaction, indicating that a career based solely on looks may not fulfill essential human needs, highlighting the potential pitfalls of sudden fame and the importance of self-determination in career satisfaction.

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Summary

00:00

Beauty Bias: Impact on Fame and Success

  • Audrey Hepburn, a 22-year-old woman, was discovered by author Colette Viola Ceste Gigi in a hotel lobby on the French Riviera.
  • Despite her limited acting experience, Hepburn was immediately cast as the lead in a Broadway musical upon being spotted by a casting director.
  • The internet has revolutionized the possibility of instant fame, as seen with a Target cashier who became an overnight internet sensation.
  • The benefits of attractiveness are explored, with Alex from Target gaining viral fame solely based on his looks.
  • The concept of attractiveness is dissected, with facial symmetry and average faces being key factors in perceived attractiveness.
  • Historical and cultural standards of beauty have evolved, with different preferences across various regions and time periods.
  • Attractiveness plays a significant role in social media success, with studies showing that it impacts job opportunities, promotions, and even legal outcomes.
  • Jeremy Meeks, known as the "hot felon," gained fame and opportunities despite his criminal record due to his attractive appearance.
  • The bias towards attractive individuals extends to perceptions of competence, sociability, intelligence, and success, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.
  • The "what is beautiful is good" bias is prevalent in society, influencing interactions, opportunities, and overall success based on physical appearance.

15:30

Newborns Prefer Attractive Faces; Impact on Society

  • Research in the UK found that newborns prefer to look at attractive faces over unattractive ones, indicating a natural preference for beauty from birth.
  • This preference for attractive faces may explain why media often features attractive models, as beauty is associated with positivity and success.
  • Alex from Target gained fame due to his attractiveness and a strong teenage girl fan base, showcasing the power of physical appeal in garnering attention.
  • Evolutionary psychology theories suggest that facial attractiveness signals genetic health, influencing mate selection and societal perceptions.
  • Despite initial fame, Alex faced challenges in handling sudden celebrity status and was taken advantage of by his manager in the social media industry.
  • Self-determination theory highlights the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in career satisfaction, which may have been lacking in Alex's modeling career.
  • The study on fashion models revealed lower well-being and psychological need satisfaction, indicating that a career based solely on looks may not fulfill essential human needs.
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