Media changes the perception of individuals about themselves to make people desire the ideal standards of appearance and beauty. Media also provides ideas of body image as a standard of beauty (Gallagher & Pecot-Hebert, 2007). Mass accessibility led to the exposure and consumption of media by many people. The media is the biggest source of ideas of beauty expressed through different venues such as print magazines, television commercials or shows, and online programs. The media is a social institution that creates ideas of beauty and influences individual self-perception (Engeln-Maddox & Miller, 2008). The media as determinant of standards of beauty. These external influences not only affect ideas of a beautiful partner but also determine how well individuals meet the acceptable standards of a beautiful partner. External Influences on Individual Perceptions of Beauty Perceptions of beauty that individuals use in finding and selecting a partner depend on external influences. An interesting question is how far individuals consider social influences in selecting their partners and how well social influences on beauty standards in partner selection guarantee a good relationship. Acceptance of a partner by their peers is important to individuals. Order custom essay Beauty Is in the Eye of the BeholderĮven if a person finds someone attractive, if their friends or peers disagree then chances are they will not end up with that person. While perceptions of beauty depend on personal taste, social influences can sway choices and outcomes. Physical beauty is the initial determinant of attraction, which determines an individual’s interest in another person. Beauty is also a strong consideration in looking for a partner or selecting a mate. These are just examples of how people invest time and money to meet the pressure of becoming beautiful. People put on make-up, shave or brush their teeth while racing in the motorway. Teenage siblings race to use the bathroom first because a sibling takes an hour or more to prepare for school.Ī range of beauty products clutter the bathroom cabinet or dresser with products used for different parts of the body or for various purposes and applied during the day and at night.Ĭouples pressure each other to hurry up so they would beat rush hour traffic and not be late for work. We may not be aware of it but we are likely to have experienced or witnessed how people use time and seem to have insufficient time in making themselves beautiful. Every day, people spend time and money to become beautiful. There is strong pressure for individuals to become beautiful and to find a beautiful mate.

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