We often ask ourselves what constitutes beauty? Beauty is often defined as a subjective quality of certain objects that make those objects appealing to the senses. Such objects could be sunsets, landscapes, beautiful humans and creative works of art. Beauty, along with personal taste and art, is probably the most significant subject of aesthetics, among the major branches of psychology. Aesthetic beauty, or what some call personal aesthetically attractive, has been determined by a number of different research methods. Some of the most famous of these methods are described below:
The study of human physical attractiveness has been around for centuries now. In fact, the very beginnings of modern medicine are linked to the need to define and quantify physical beauty. Early doctors used a system based on measurements of body parts and functions to determine a person’s “undisclosed physical beauty.” These early measurements were only imperfect, and there is considerable debate about how far back this system goes.
During the Victorian era, another set of social standards started to shape beauty. People were more interested in physical beauty than they were in other aspects of their personality, and this led to much research into how physical features influenced an individual’s personality. While the study of beauty was not nearly as advanced as it is today, Victorian beauty trends are still widely recognized.
Today, a number of research teams are conducting studies that attempt to answer the question, what constitutes beauty. Though many disagree about what beauty actually is, most agree that physical attractiveness is a natural internal state that can be altered through changes in one’s behavior and appearance. Beauty varies according to the preferences of the viewer, but regardless of whether beauty is defined by physical appearance or by behavior, there is no doubt that beauty has a significant role to play in the lives of most people.
Art is often defined as the expression of a particular aesthetic sense. The history of beauty has been intimately connected with that of art since the beginning of time. The two work closely together in many ways. Even the earliest art references show that beauty is tied to religious and cultural beliefs. Some cultures view beauty as a form of worship, as in the case of the ancient Egyptian religion which believed that the human body was sacred. The ancient Greek definition of beauty was tied to notions of practical reason.
Through the ages and throughout recorded history, we have seen many different forms of beauty. In the present day, beauty is typically defined according to societal norms. We usually associate beauty with physical attributes such as hair and skin color, height, and age. But beauty is also individualistic, and beauty ideals may vary from culture to culture. What you consider beautiful is your personal concept of beauty.