Does Society’s Valuation of Attractive People Pose a Threat to Evolution?

Today I want to talk about an idea that has been on my mind, but ill admit that it might be a bit out there. The idea in itself is based off many assumptions of how we evolved as humans and how we will move forward, but nonetheless I wanted to put it out there just because I think it is quite interesting. I ask the question of if, how modern day society’s valuation of what people find attractive, hurts our chance at evolution in the future?

Who someone finds attractive is mostly based on what the society they live in finds attractive. Attractiveness does have some relationship with the symmetry of someones face or body, but for the most part it is determined by what society agrees is attractive. Some quick examples off the cuff are how during the Medieval era, heavier people were seen as attractive due to the idea they had enough money to afford food and how in many Eastern countries, darker skin is less attractive because of its relationship to working outside.

In the west however, tan skin, lean bodies and muscular or healthy bodies are seen as the most attractive. This most likely comes from being outdoors and athletic is seen as healthy and a way to a long life. As human beings on a primal level, we want our kin to survive and have the best chance at success, so we gravitate towards partners that represent that. In the past mating with a strong tall male might mean that your offspring would be big and strong as well, giving the males a shot at the “alpha male” spot in tribes. This ultimately would be beneficial to the tribe and push mankind forward just by surviving, but in recent times we have gone through a stark change.

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Physical appearance, size, ect has little to do with advancing our species these days and the majority of people who rule don’t fit in with the typical historical alpha male stereotype. Those who truly rule today possess more intellectual prowess more than physical. So I ask, are we as a civilization moving in the wrong direction if we hold up the current standards of attractiveness in high esteem? Eventually we as a species will be tested with some sort of disease, natural disaster, ect. that will really only be solved by the smartest in the world. Perhaps breeding our race for super minds rather than super bodies/faces is the way forward.

I don’t expect anything to change and there still are technicalities with many people who possess both qualities, but it still isn’t the majority. Also emotional traits such as confidence have a large effect on attracting a mate. It might just be that what we find attractive is instinctual as much as breathing or eating is. We probably lack the ability to control it and liking what you like doesn’t make you a bad person. I am just playing devils advocate on what our world would look like if attraction changed. Inevitably it will move to something else as even in my life trends and fads have come and gone.

Thanks to @Elyaque for the badges