A very radical and wide-spread tendency to observe beauty, and to value it

P.S. Attraction does not only come from beauty, yet this passage focuses mainly on only beauty

What is Beauty

According to Cambridge Dictionary, the definition of Beauty is :

the quality of being pleased and attractive, especially to look at

Emergence

Does the perception of love born with life, or form environmentally

Subjectivity / Diversity

perceiving beauty involves a personal, emotional connection and may be tied to our social nature, potentially fostering shared experiences and bonding.

Evolution Theory

People with high attractiveness or facial value tends to, or more likely to, become the focus or exert a higher hierarchal position in the society. E.g. Interview opportunities, Entertainment industries(celebrities, models, actors, singers, hosts). In other words, appearance is one of the core capital assets.

Evolution

Most mammal infants develop and mature quickly. However, human infants have the longest childhood of any species. The first thing a newborn baby does is cry.

The essence of evolution lies in survival and reproduction.

Human’s evolution on heat dissipation explains properties such as no fur (explaining smooth skin), transitioning from four legs to two legs (more energy efficient, less acceleration), sweat glands, and endurance.

Further, human evolution orientation evolves around two main lines : battle ability and brain development.

While many mammals have distinct periods of estrus, humans can reproduce at any time.

During the tribal era, infant mortality rates were extremely high. In this context, attractiveness signaled excellent reproductive potential. Average proportions indicated healthy metabolism, even skin tone suggested proper liver and blood circulation function, and smooth skin showed absence of parasites and inflammatory diseases—all signs of sufficient nutrients. Unconsciously, we defined these traits as healthy.

Sexual hormones make these characteristics more pronounced—for example, chiseled features in males and softness in females.

Therefore, from an evolutionary perspective, males choose healthier mates to combine and replicate their genes with for maximum reproductive success.

We are survival machines – robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes. This is a truth which still fills me with astonishment - Richard Dawkins, “The selfish Gene”

Elements of Beauty

For Female :

babyface (as in extruding cheekbones, narrow face, and a bright smile), big eyes, small nose, pointy chin, plump lips → indicating tender

For Male (two ways) :

1. Solid chin, Wide forehead, Extruding cheekbones, Thick eyebrows → indicating powerful and dominance

2. More tender, adding elements of female

The longer length of feet → longer time of growth, puberty → more development

Universal Standards

Averaged → → variation, low chance of disease

Francis Galton

Biology : Brain

Physiological synchrony

The question is, when we glance at an attractive people, what happens to us?

The experience of beauty is not a vague, abstract feeling but a concrete pattern of activity in the brain.

Dopamine is a key chemical messenger in the brain's reward circuit, which is directly activated by beauty. When you look at something you find beautiful - a stunning landscape, a powerful artwork, or an attractive face - the brain doesn't just passively register it. It actively processes it as a rewarding stimulus. The medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) is a major hub within this mesolimbic dopamine pathway. Activation in the mOFC in response to beauty is strongly associated with the release of dopamine. This neurotransmitter creates feelings of pleasure, desire, and focused attention, making the experience of beauty intrinsically motivating and enjoyable.

The neural circuitry engaged can vary depending on the source of beauty. Visual art and scenic landscapes heavily recruit visual brain areas, while beautiful music activates the auditory cortex and emotional centers. Despite these different entry points, they all converge on the same reward hub, the mOFC

Motivation

This release of dopamine is more about motivated attention and "wanting" than simple pleasure. Neuroscientists often distinguish between "liking" (the pure pleasure sensation) and "wanting" (the motivational drive). Dopamine is more closely tied to "wanting" and anticipation. When beauty captivates us, dopamine helps narrow our focus, heightens our engagement, and makes us want to continue the experience. This explains why we can't look away from a beautiful sunset or feel compelled to replay a piece of music—the brain's reward system, fueled by dopamine, is encouraging this rewarding behaviour.