Physical vs Inner Beauty

1409 Words6 Pages
What is Beauty? Physical vs. Inner Beauty Aaron C. Ainsworth Post University Abstract There are two common types of beauty: physical and inner. Physical beauty is based solely on what can be see, and inner beauty is based on what is sensed. It is possible to obtain only one type of beauty, but is preferable to exhibit both. Connections have been shown to exist between inner and physical beauty. Both beauties have equal importance in representation, respect, and definition. What is Beauty? Physical vs. Inner Beauty Everyone has their own perceived definition of what it means to be beautiful. Beauty can be defined by the qualities present in a person that give pleasure or satisfaction to the mind. Therefore, beauty can be any quality of an individual that another finds pleasing. There are two common qualities associated with beauty: a physical quality and an inner quality, both of which a person can possess. Physical beauty consists of the qualities that an individual can see, whereas inner beauty consists of qualities that an individual cannot see but rather can sense. Physical Beauty At the core of physical beauty is physical attractiveness, or how individuals are naturally drawn to others. Physical beauty can be a person’s elegance, feature, figure, and appearance. Physical beauty is the first thing individuals notice about others. Physical beauty is something that is admired throughout the society. Everyone has heard the clichés “you only get one chance to make a first impression” and “beauty is only skin deep.” Bettelheim (1999) states, “The media, advertisers and the diet industry tend to set the standard of beauty in today's society” (p.13). Bettelheim suggests that physical beauty is something that is learned and changes with time. Bettelheim (1999) notes, “We must remember that they are selling us dissatisfaction with our bodies in
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