Variations in the physical appearance of humans, known as human looks, are believed by anthropologists to be an important factor in the development of personality and social relations, in particular, physical attractiveness. There is a relatively low sexual dimorphism between human males and females in comparison with other mammals[citation needed]. However, humans are acutely sensitive to variations in physical appearance, some theorize for reasons of evolution. Some differences in human appearance are genetic, others are the result of age or disease, and many are the result of personal adornment.
Some people have traditionally linked some differences in personal appearance such as skeletal shape with race, such as prognathism or elongated stride[citation needed] (this is a controversial and sensitive matter, despite being a but a simple branch of empirical science). Different cultures place different degrees of emphasis on physical appearance and its importance to social status and other phenomena.
Factors affecting physical appearance
Physiological differences in human physical appearance from individual to individual
- Height, body weight, skin tone, body hair, sexual organs, moles, birthmarks, freckles, hair color, hair texture, eye color, nose shape, ears shape, body shape, body deformations, mutilations and other variations such as amputations, scars, burns and wounds.
Long-term physiological changes in an individual
Short-term physiological changes in an individual
Clothing and personal effects
- clothing, including headgear and footwear; some clothes alter or mold the shape of the body (e.g. corset, support pantyhose, bra). As for footwear, high heels make a person look taller.
- style and colour of haircut (see also mohawk, dreadlocks, braids, ponytail, wig, hairpin, facial hair, beard and moustache)
- cosmetics, stage makeup, body paintings, permanent makeup
- body modifications, such as body piercings and tattoos
- plastic surgery
- decorative objects (jewelry) such as a necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings
- medical or body shape altering devices (e.g. tooth braces, bandages, casts, hearing aids, cervical collar, crutches, contact lenses of different colours, glasses, gold teeth)
Other functional objects, temporarily attached to the body
See also
References
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