PRETTY CHILDREN
ARE UGLY CHILDREN LESS LOVED?
______ (2005) Are ugly children less loved? MSNBC, 5/3
In a new study, researchers followed 400 sets of parents with children that were between 2 and 5 years old. Using a measure on attractiveness, they found that parents allowed less attractive children to take more risks. The parents also were more attentive to the attractive children.
Researchers suggest this supports evolutionary psychology that parents want the best genetic material passed on to future generations. Although evolutionary psychology has lately help explain a number of behaviors, this one may not hold.
Pretty kids get more attention, but may become indulged and not prosper in later years. Studies of CEO’s suggest that they are taller in terms of men, but not necessarily more attractive.
Ethno methodology may suggest that youngster nearly all appear to be attractive versions of adults. Thus adults gravitate toward the most handsome. Attractiveness is also considered a leveler as the ambitious seeks out the pretty. The handsome partner may not be part of the cognitive elite or have the street hustle to make a go of it in the wider world.
However, the findings are important in that pretty kids get better treatment. Numerous studies show that pretty people do get numerous advantages.