Are you hot? Attractive? Or even sexy?
These terms in society hold a significance to many people, but the definition can be different depending on the person. What is attractive to someone can be totally unappealing to someone else. People are attracted to different people depending on their own definition of what is attractive. Some are even willing to change their own appearance to fulfill their own definitions of attractive and feel more confident. For some it may be long hair, for others it may be short hair. For some it may be tall people, for others it may be short people. It depends on the individual. Yet, for many people, there is an overall preferred type. According to The Telegraph, scientific research claims that certain features such as body symmetry, finger length, and even color of hair can all promote a high levels of attraction. Demarii Blanks, a senior, said, “I look at their face specifically first, then eyes, teeth, nose, lips and then straight to the body.” According to Psychology.com, instinctively, many people are looking for a partner with the least DNA damage. A noticeable indicator of minimal DNA damage is symmetry. Research has also shown that men and women are considered to be more attractive when there are less oxidative stress levels in their blood, which occurs when excess oxygen radicals are produced in cells, and can overwhelm the normal antioxidant capacity. Others believe attraction stems from personality, rather than solely from just looks. Julia Walsh, a senior, said, “I think looks shouldn’t be important, but they usually are when you’re attracted to someone. I’m normally attracted to someone after I talk to them. If a guy is attractive but has a bad personality, I usually lose interest.” Walsh isn’t alone in her opinion. Amin Jadallah, a senior, said, “Hotness can only go so far. Personality is so important in order to vibe with them. When it becomes serious, looks is a bonus. Of course physical attraction is important, but a good personality keeps the relationship going.” Aiden Jacobson, a senior, agreed. “Generally for me its 25 percent physical looks and 75 percent personality,” Jacobson said. Attraction may even cause teens to change their natural characteristics to feel more comfortable in their own skin. Thomas Johnson, a senior, had surgery for a nose job the summer before his senior year. His name has been changed because he requested to remain anonymous. “I chose to get a nose job done because it was going to help me feel better about myself and fix one of my insecurities, which would allow me to be more outgoing. It totally changed the way I feel about myself and made me more confident and to able to accept myself more,” Leary said. Johnson is not the only teen who has spent thousands to seek surgery for a change. The 2016 Cosmetic Surgery Distribution Survey stated that a total of 66,347 teens between the ages of thirteen and nineteen have undergone cosmetic procedures. Johnson said, “I’d recommend someone else to have a procedure if they want to fix an insecurity about themselves to make them feel better. At the end of the day, it’s about how you think about yourself and not what others think. I did it for myself.” Although change can be beneficial, some feel differently and think natural characteristics should remain. Walsh said, “I don’t think it’s a positive thing that plastic surgery is becoming ‘attractive.’ It shows people that who you are isn’t enough, and you have to plump your lips or extend your lashes to be attractive. It sends a negative message to young girls and creates a divide between those who can and can’t afford it.” Although many people believe being attracted to someone is purely social, one's brain affects these choices most of the time. Jadallah said, “Attraction can be important, but the love that eventually can happen is what really matters.” |