The Interesting Benefits Of Being Attractive

We all know that being attractive can get you far in life, but it can also come with many benefits that probably never occurred to you, though it's important to note that what people find physically appealing can differ vastly around the world. For example, in East Asia, pale skin is considered beautiful, while many Americans love a good tan. However, certain factors make someone attractive across the board. For instance, many deem symmetry and average features to be good-looking in both men and women, per research published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology. 

Moreover, when it comes to the face, features that are perfectly proportionate to each other seem to make a person more attractive. For example, for conventional attraction, the eyes shouldn't be too big or small, and many prefer a smaller nose (via Dr. Mark Doyle). The same goes for the body: Women with a small waist and hourglass shape are typically considered attractive, as is a more petite frame. 

If that weren't enough, a study performed by The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis showed that conventionally attractive people even make more money than their supposedly less attractive counterparts (via Everyday Health). Another experiment — this one featured on NBC's "Dateline" — found that strangers were more likely to help above-average-looking folks. Naturally, no one should compare themselves to unrealistic beauty standards, but there are interesting, science-backed perks that come with being conventionally attractive.

If you've ever wondered why your gorgeous coworker never gets sick — or always heals really quickly when they do — it may come down to science. Texas Christian University researchers have noted that those who are considered attractive have "stronger immune systems," according to findings published in the research journal Proceedings B (via Phys.Org). The researchers gathered 159 participants — a mix of men and women — and drew their blood to find which ones were in overall good health based on their white blood cell counts. It turned out that the men who had more natural killer (NK) cells — ones that "target and kill bacteria" — were found better looking. Alternatively, women who had "lower NK levels" were deemed "more attractive," but it also meant their estrogen levels were elevated.

It's been theorized that people have been innately attracted to others with healthier immune systems because they've been able to fight off diseases and infections, therefore having a longer life, according to New Scientist. And who doesn't want their partner to live a long life? Moreover, it could be about survival instincts and the preservation of our lineages. "Perhaps it's a cue to people's genetic qualities, including their immune function and [the capacity to] pass on that good immune function down to their children," hypothesized scientist Summer Mengelkoch (via New Scientist). So, if you ever find yourself attracted to someone, it might just be because of their ability to stave off infectious diseases. Sexy, right?

If you have beauty and brains, then you've won the evolutionary jackpot, as it turns out that they go hand in hand. A study conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill had subjects take an IQ test and had their looks rated by an examiner with no knowledge of the test results (via Psychology Today). The ones deemed conventionally attractive had IQ scores of over 100, while those who were found unattractive had IQs of 94.9 and under.

It may not be fair for someone to be attractive and smart, but it can be broken down as a ripple effect. A 2004 study published in the scientific journal Intelligence explained that smarter men tend to be more successful in life and couple with "more beautiful women." Then, if they have children, they'll pass on the smart and beautiful genes — and voilà, they've created an enviable human.

What's more, many believe that attractive people are smarter for no other reason than simply being attractive, per ScienceAlert. "Previous studies have suggested there are valid facial cues that assist us in assessing someone's health or intelligence, but such cues are overshadowed by an 'attractiveness halo,' whereby desirable attributions are preferentially ascribed to attractive people," explained United Kingdom-based researcher Sean Talamas (via ScienceAlert).

We all grew up learning to never trust strangers, but if they're attractive, then we just might assume that they're honorable. Being attractive can even get someone a get-out-of-jail-free card. A study published in PLOS One showed that while above-average-looking people tend to not engage in criminal activity, those who do have lower arrest and conviction rates. Judges also tend to be more merciful to people who put care into their appearance in court.

Dubbed the "halo effect," being attractive makes others believe there are other positive attributes to the person. "When they see an attractive person, they're going to say: OK, that attractive person is also probably nice and smart and has a lot of friends and is popular," neuropsychologist Judy Ho explained to VICE. Interestingly, a pretty person may become trustworthy as a result of how they're perceived. "In some ways, what we find is when people are treated a certain way, then they develop those types of skill sets further," Ho added. 

If you're one of the lucky beautiful ones, don't be afraid to embrace it. After all, Ho suggested, "Think about how you can utilize that to improve somebody else's life, somebody who, for example, does not have free privilege and may not have been afforded the opportunities that you have been afforded." Who knew beauty really might not be skin deep?