beauty is skin-deep beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder don’t judge a book
eyes of the beholder don’t judge a book
eyes of the beholder don’t judge a book by its cover
by its cover
by its cover how many times have you heard those
how many times have you heard those
how many times have you heard those statements ladies and gentlemen it’s my
statements ladies and gentlemen it’s my
statements ladies and gentlemen it’s my contention that our modern culture today
contention that our modern culture today
contention that our modern culture today sends mixed messages about beauty and
sends mixed messages about beauty and
sends mixed messages about beauty and really causes cultural confusion what
really causes cultural confusion what
really causes cultural confusion what I’d like to do today is open your eyes
I’d like to do today is open your eyes
I’d like to do today is open your eyes so that on one hand we may be obsessed
so that on one hand we may be obsessed
so that on one hand we may be obsessed with posting the latest selfie that is
with posting the latest selfie that is
with posting the latest selfie that is flawless perhaps that has been
flawless perhaps that has been
flawless perhaps that has been airbrushed but on the other hand we
airbrushed but on the other hand we
airbrushed but on the other hand we cannot tell our neighbors newly born
cannot tell our neighbors newly born
cannot tell our neighbors newly born child that that child is hideous you
child that that child is hideous you
child that that child is hideous you know on one hand we see TV anchors
know on one hand we see TV anchors
know on one hand we see TV anchors trying to outdo themselves when it comes
trying to outdo themselves when it comes
trying to outdo themselves when it comes to matters of looking glamorous on TV
to matters of looking glamorous on TV
to matters of looking glamorous on TV but we cannot say that we didn’t hire
but we cannot say that we didn’t hire
but we cannot say that we didn’t hire that person because we didn’t like the
that person because we didn’t like the
that person because we didn’t like the way that they look ladies and gentlemen
way that they look ladies and gentlemen
way that they look ladies and gentlemen I would like to set you free I would
I would like to set you free I would
I would like to set you free I would like you to look at Beauty as the
like you to look at Beauty as the
like you to look at Beauty as the pursuit of excellence which is a human
pursuit of excellence which is a human
pursuit of excellence which is a human endeavor I would like you to look at
endeavor I would like you to look at
endeavor I would like you to look at Beauty as a survival instinct so let me
Beauty as a survival instinct so let me
Beauty as a survival instinct so let me start I want to share some hard truths
start I want to share some hard truths
start I want to share some hard truths with you cause I like to call it the
with you cause I like to call it the
with you cause I like to call it the beautiful truth you know that more
beautiful truth you know that more
beautiful truth you know that more attractive people are seen as more
attractive people are seen as more
attractive people are seen as more intelligent they’re seen as friendlier
intelligent they’re seen as friendlier
intelligent they’re seen as friendlier they are seen as more creative in fact
they are seen as more creative in fact
they are seen as more creative in fact they are also seen as more honest this
they are also seen as more honest this
they are also seen as more honest this is called the beauty premium we assign
is called the beauty premium we assign
is called the beauty premium we assign certain values to a person simply based
certain values to a person simply based
certain values to a person simply based on the way that they look and the less
on the way that they look and the less
on the way that they look and the less attractive are seen as unfriendly in
attractive are seen as unfriendly in
attractive are seen as unfriendly in certain cases not even as intelligent
certain cases not even as intelligent
certain cases not even as intelligent perhaps not even as credible ladies and
perhaps not even as credible ladies and
perhaps not even as credible ladies and gentlemen this is called the ugly
gentlemen this is called the ugly
gentlemen this is called the ugly penalty there is a beauty premium in
penalty there is a beauty premium in
penalty there is a beauty premium in fact when we look at beauty it is my
fact when we look at beauty it is my
fact when we look at beauty it is my contention that this starts from the
contention that this starts from the
contention that this starts from the earliest that we born did you know that
earliest that we born did you know that
earliest that we born did you know that babies that are more attractive are held
babies that are more attractive are held
babies that are more attractive are held more they are coddled they receive more
more they are coddled they receive more
more they are coddled they receive more smiles in a famous supermarket study
smiles in a famous supermarket study
smiles in a famous supermarket study toddlers were allowed to roam unattended
toddlers were allowed to roam unattended
toddlers were allowed to roam unattended in a supermarket and the less attractive
in a supermarket and the less attractive
in a supermarket and the less attractive children were allowed to roam further
children were allowed to roam further
children were allowed to roam further away unattended than their counterparts
away unattended than their counterparts
away unattended than their counterparts in fact as we go into school more
in fact as we go into school more
in fact as we go into school more attractive children receive more
attractive children receive more
attractive children receive more attention a greater response to their
attention a greater response to their
attention a greater response to their problems and even in college and
problems and even in college and
problems and even in college and university students who are considered
university students who are considered
university students who are considered more attractive receive better grades
more attractive receive better grades
more attractive receive better grades yes that is the true bell curve when it
yes that is the true bell curve when it
yes that is the true bell curve when it comes to marking and professors who are
comes to marking and professors who are
comes to marking and professors who are less attractive are deemed not as good
less attractive are deemed not as good
less attractive are deemed not as good in terms of their teaching ability
ladies and gentlemen let’s look at the
ladies and gentlemen let’s look at the workplace did you know that over the
workplace did you know that over the
workplace did you know that over the course of one’s career if you are deemed
course of one’s career if you are deemed
course of one’s career if you are deemed as more attractive you will make on
as more attractive you will make on
as more attractive you will make on average twenty thousand shillings more
average twenty thousand shillings more
average twenty thousand shillings more per year
publicly traded companies who have CEOs
publicly traded companies who have CEOs who are considered more attractive have
who are considered more attractive have
who are considered more attractive have their shares trading at a higher price
their shares trading at a higher price
their shares trading at a higher price higher price than those companies wealth
higher price than those companies wealth
higher price than those companies wealth CEOs who are deemed less attractive
CEOs who are deemed less attractive
CEOs who are deemed less attractive let’s look at relationships I mean there
let’s look at relationships I mean there
let’s look at relationships I mean there are no two ways about it the more
are no two ways about it the more
are no two ways about it the more attractive you are the more dates you go
attractive you are the more dates you go
attractive you are the more dates you go on in fact more attractive people are
on in fact more attractive people are
on in fact more attractive people are six times more likely to be married than
six times more likely to be married than
six times more likely to be married than they’re less attractive counterparts the
they’re less attractive counterparts the
they’re less attractive counterparts the justice system those who are less
justice system those who are less
justice system those who are less attractive receive higher penalties the
attractive receive higher penalties the
attractive receive higher penalties the more attractive linear sentences and
more attractive linear sentences and
more attractive linear sentences and even in civil cases the more attractive
even in civil cases the more attractive
even in civil cases the more attractive will receive a higher compensation let’s
will receive a higher compensation let’s
will receive a higher compensation let’s look at films movies TV entertainment
look at films movies TV entertainment
look at films movies TV entertainment the hero or the heroine is always the
the hero or the heroine is always the
the hero or the heroine is always the most attractive is always the
most attractive is always the
most attractive is always the good-looking leading man whereas the
good-looking leading man whereas the
good-looking leading man whereas the villain will always have some sort of
villain will always have some sort of
villain will always have some sort of deformity or will be less attractive in
deformity or will be less attractive in
deformity or will be less attractive in music studies have shown that the more
music studies have shown that the more
music studies have shown that the more attractive you are the better rated your
attractive you are the better rated your
attractive you are the better rated your music is in fact more attractive
music is in fact more attractive
music is in fact more attractive musicians have more hit singles than the
musicians have more hit singles than the
musicians have more hit singles than the less attractive counterparts in fact
less attractive counterparts in fact
less attractive counterparts in fact there is something called the ugliness
there is something called the ugliness
there is something called the ugliness penalty there’s an article up there that
penalty there’s an article up there that
penalty there’s an article up there that refers to how legislation needs to be
refers to how legislation needs to be
refers to how legislation needs to be enacted to protect the homely the same
enacted to protect the homely the same
enacted to protect the homely the same way that there’s legislation to protect
way that there’s legislation to protect
way that there’s legislation to protect discrimination against gender
discrimination against gender
discrimination against gender discrimination against racial
discrimination against racial
discrimination against racial discrimination this article proposes
discrimination this article proposes
discrimination this article proposes that they need to be enacted legislation
that they need to be enacted legislation
that they need to be enacted legislation to protect those who are not as
to protect those who are not as
to protect those who are not as attractive
at this point you’re probably thinking
at this point you’re probably thinking to yourself all right Derrick they may
to yourself all right Derrick they may
to yourself all right Derrick they may be a colonel or to truth to what you are
be a colonel or to truth to what you are
be a colonel or to truth to what you are saying but isn’t beauty subjective isn’t
saying but isn’t beauty subjective isn’t
saying but isn’t beauty subjective isn’t one man or one woman’s meet somebody
one man or one woman’s meet somebody
one man or one woman’s meet somebody else’s poison well actually not Immanuel
else’s poison well actually not Immanuel
else’s poison well actually not Immanuel Kant the German philosopher said that
Kant the German philosopher said that
Kant the German philosopher said that our looking at someone beautiful is
our looking at someone beautiful is
our looking at someone beautiful is universal and has nothing to do with
universal and has nothing to do with
universal and has nothing to do with subjective tendencies there is a
subjective tendencies there is a
subjective tendencies there is a template in our minds that automatically
template in our minds that automatically
template in our minds that automatically recognizes beauty in other words it’s
recognizes beauty in other words it’s
recognizes beauty in other words it’s inborn it’s instinctive
inborn it’s instinctive
inborn it’s instinctive we’re born with recognizing beauty so
we’re born with recognizing beauty so
we’re born with recognizing beauty so what do we look for well symmetry is one
what do we look for well symmetry is one
what do we look for well symmetry is one of the things that the brain is
of the things that the brain is
of the things that the brain is automatically looking for when it
automatically looking for when it
automatically looking for when it considers someone beautiful symmetry of
considers someone beautiful symmetry of
considers someone beautiful symmetry of course is the balance of proportion of
course is the balance of proportion of
course is the balance of proportion of the features on somebody’s face it could
the features on somebody’s face it could
the features on somebody’s face it could be one half in relation to the other
be one half in relation to the other
be one half in relation to the other in fact symmetry is considered a sign of
in fact symmetry is considered a sign of
in fact symmetry is considered a sign of a healthy individual let’s look at men
a healthy individual let’s look at men
a healthy individual let’s look at men ladies when you are looking at a man and
ladies when you are looking at a man and
ladies when you are looking at a man and you consider them attractive in most
you consider them attractive in most
you consider them attractive in most cultures it’s a man who has a strong
cultures it’s a man who has a strong
cultures it’s a man who has a strong chin you know the leading man’s jaw they
chin you know the leading man’s jaw they
chin you know the leading man’s jaw they may have well-defined cheekbones they’ve
may have well-defined cheekbones they’ve
may have well-defined cheekbones they’ve got a strong brow that’s a truly
got a strong brow that’s a truly
got a strong brow that’s a truly masculine face that is what women look
masculine face that is what women look
masculine face that is what women look for in a man and they consider that
for in a man and they consider that
for in a man and they consider that attractive because that is a sign that
attractive because that is a sign that
attractive because that is a sign that that man has high levels of testosterone
that man has high levels of testosterone
that man has high levels of testosterone and can protect the female in terms of
and can protect the female in terms of
and can protect the female in terms of if there is some misadventure ladies
if there is some misadventure ladies
if there is some misadventure ladies how do you like your men tall dark and
how do you like your men tall dark and
how do you like your men tall dark and handsome that’s not just a cliche that’s
handsome that’s not just a cliche that’s
handsome that’s not just a cliche that’s deeply embedded in the female psyche we
deeply embedded in the female psyche we
deeply embedded in the female psyche we are hard-wired of women are hard-wired
are hard-wired of women are hard-wired
are hard-wired of women are hard-wired to respond to men who are taller
to respond to men who are taller
to respond to men who are taller that’s because taller men had an
that’s because taller men had an
that’s because taller men had an advantage in any confrontation and again
advantage in any confrontation and again
advantage in any confrontation and again that is what women are looking for
that is what women are looking for
that is what women are looking for somebody who can protect them and
somebody who can protect them and
somebody who can protect them and protect their offspring when we are
protect their offspring when we are
protect their offspring when we are looking at women what do men find
looking at women what do men find
looking at women what do men find attractive well there are a couple of
attractive well there are a couple of
attractive well there are a couple of things clear smooth skin big clear eyes
things clear smooth skin big clear eyes
things clear smooth skin big clear eyes full lips these are all deemed
full lips these are all deemed
full lips these are all deemed attractive across all cultures in fact
attractive across all cultures in fact
attractive across all cultures in fact there are certain cultures that will
there are certain cultures that will
there are certain cultures that will look at a woman and if she is full of
look at a woman and if she is full of
look at a woman and if she is full of figured or round her they will consider
figured or round her they will consider
figured or round her they will consider her more attractive some cultures will
her more attractive some cultures will
her more attractive some cultures will look at women who are thinner and look
look at women who are thinner and look
look at women who are thinner and look at that as attractive but in all those
at that as attractive but in all those
at that as attractive but in all those cases what men I instinctively drawn to
cases what men I instinctively drawn to
cases what men I instinctively drawn to is a woman who has a waist-to-hip ratio
is a woman who has a waist-to-hip ratio
is a woman who has a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7 that’s called the hourglass
of 0.7 that’s called the hourglass
of 0.7 that’s called the hourglass figure and that’s what men are
figure and that’s what men are
figure and that’s what men are instinctively drawn to now men don’t
instinctively drawn to now men don’t
instinctively drawn to now men don’t walk around saying I’m looking for a
walk around saying I’m looking for a
walk around saying I’m looking for a woman who has clear skin and who has a
woman who has clear skin and who has a
woman who has clear skin and who has a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7
waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7
waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7 but it’s instinctive
but it’s instinctive
but it’s instinctive in fact there’s a part of the brain that
in fact there’s a part of the brain that
in fact there’s a part of the brain that is stimulated when they see a woman who
is stimulated when they see a woman who
is stimulated when they see a woman who has that particular characteristic and
has that particular characteristic and
has that particular characteristic and it’s the same part of the brain that is
it’s the same part of the brain that is
it’s the same part of the brain that is stimulated when men I engaged in
stimulated when men I engaged in
stimulated when men I engaged in thrill-seeking behavior like gambling or
thrill-seeking behavior like gambling or
thrill-seeking behavior like gambling or whitewater rafting in other words they
whitewater rafting in other words they
whitewater rafting in other words they can’t help themselves it is direct
can’t help themselves it is direct
can’t help themselves it is direct stimulation and positive stimulation at
stimulation and positive stimulation at
stimulation and positive stimulation at that
they’re not a DaVinci in the 15th
they’re not a DaVinci in the 15th century
century
century lonardo DaVinci’s of course the famous
lonardo DaVinci’s of course the famous
lonardo DaVinci’s of course the famous Italian artist and thinker came up with
Italian artist and thinker came up with
Italian artist and thinker came up with a drawing a masterpiece that is studied
a drawing a masterpiece that is studied
a drawing a masterpiece that is studied even today it’s called the Vitruvian Man
even today it’s called the Vitruvian Man
even today it’s called the Vitruvian Man this is a picture of a man who has
this is a picture of a man who has
this is a picture of a man who has perfect proportions and when women are
perfect proportions and when women are
perfect proportions and when women are looking at a man and they find a man
looking at a man and they find a man
looking at a man and they find a man attractive
attractive
attractive they are also instinctively looking for
they are also instinctively looking for
they are also instinctively looking for a man who has these proportions for
a man who has these proportions for
a man who has these proportions for example the relationship of the size of
example the relationship of the size of
example the relationship of the size of a man’s shoulders in relationship to his
a man’s shoulders in relationship to his
a man’s shoulders in relationship to his waist that’s the upside down V shape
waist that’s the upside down V shape
waist that’s the upside down V shape that women are looking for and again it
that women are looking for and again it
that women are looking for and again it signifies that that’s a man who is full
signifies that that’s a man who is full
signifies that that’s a man who is full of health has an immune system that’s
of health has an immune system that’s
of health has an immune system that’s working and perhaps even fertile and
working and perhaps even fertile and
working and perhaps even fertile and healthier you know we are born with the
healthier you know we are born with the
healthier you know we are born with the ability to recognize faces at birth it’s
ability to recognize faces at birth it’s
ability to recognize faces at birth it’s an instinct babies are born and they
an instinct babies are born and they
an instinct babies are born and they immediately can tell their mother’s face
immediately can tell their mother’s face
immediately can tell their mother’s face however man-made objects that is learned
however man-made objects that is learned
however man-made objects that is learned we have to learn to recognize man-made
we have to learn to recognize man-made
we have to learn to recognize man-made objects did you know that when we are
objects did you know that when we are
objects did you know that when we are looking at an object or a face that has
looking at an object or a face that has
looking at an object or a face that has some kind of distortion there’s a
some kind of distortion there’s a
some kind of distortion there’s a particular part of the brain that is
particular part of the brain that is
particular part of the brain that is activated it’s called amygdala and what
activated it’s called amygdala and what
activated it’s called amygdala and what happens is the amygdala is activated and
happens is the amygdala is activated and
happens is the amygdala is activated and stimulated and this is the same part of
stimulated and this is the same part of
stimulated and this is the same part of the brain that is activated when we look
the brain that is activated when we look
the brain that is activated when we look at something that is either fearful or
at something that is either fearful or
at something that is either fearful or disgusting in fact the motor cortex is
disgusting in fact the motor cortex is
disgusting in fact the motor cortex is also fired up and the motor cortex is in
also fired up and the motor cortex is in
also fired up and the motor cortex is in place to protect us it’s a self defense
place to protect us it’s a self defense
place to protect us it’s a self defense mechanism repeated exposure to a
mechanism repeated exposure to a
mechanism repeated exposure to a distorted object
distorted object
distorted object the motor cortex is fired up the
the motor cortex is fired up the
the motor cortex is fired up the amygdala is fired up and that activation
amygdala is fired up and that activation
amygdala is fired up and that activation over time with repeated exposure
over time with repeated exposure
over time with repeated exposure actually diminishes
actually diminishes
actually diminishes however repeated exposure to a distorted
however repeated exposure to a distorted
however repeated exposure to a distorted piece over time the amygdala is still as
piece over time the amygdala is still as
piece over time the amygdala is still as active the first time as it was the last
active the first time as it was the last
active the first time as it was the last time in other words we can adapt to a
time in other words we can adapt to a
time in other words we can adapt to a violation in the beauty of an object but
violation in the beauty of an object but
violation in the beauty of an object but we cannot adapt to the violation in the
we cannot adapt to the violation in the
we cannot adapt to the violation in the beauty of man or a face at this point
beauty of man or a face at this point
beauty of man or a face at this point I’m sure you’re thinking to yourself
I’m sure you’re thinking to yourself
I’m sure you’re thinking to yourself well Derek okay well fine I think I’m
well Derek okay well fine I think I’m
well Derek okay well fine I think I’m sitting pretty so to speak but also is
sitting pretty so to speak but also is
sitting pretty so to speak but also is there any hope for me well let me share
there any hope for me well let me share
there any hope for me well let me share with you three things number one
with you three things number one
with you three things number one research has shown that in terms of
research has shown that in terms of
research has shown that in terms of attractiveness we look for averageness
attractiveness we look for averageness
attractiveness we look for averageness we look for average faces and we find
we look for average faces and we find
we look for average faces and we find those most attractive so scientists did
those most attractive so scientists did
those most attractive so scientists did an experiment a study they got average
an experiment a study they got average
an experiment a study they got average pictures of people they took a sample of
pictures of people they took a sample of
pictures of people they took a sample of the population
the population
the population and they went in the lab and they
and they went in the lab and they
and they went in the lab and they composed a composite image and came up
composed a composite image and came up
composed a composite image and came up with an average face and they did that
with an average face and they did that
with an average face and they did that several times and they showed these to
several times and they showed these to
several times and they showed these to participants and over and over again
participants and over and over again
participants and over and over again participants rated those average faces
participants rated those average faces
participants rated those average faces as most attractive and their conclusion
as most attractive and their conclusion
as most attractive and their conclusion was we are looking for perhaps greater
was we are looking for perhaps greater
was we are looking for perhaps greater genetic diversity and that’s why an
genetic diversity and that’s why an
genetic diversity and that’s why an average face is what we would consider
average face is what we would consider
average face is what we would consider attractive here’s the second thing
attractive here’s the second thing
attractive here’s the second thing people that we are familiar with our
people that we are familiar with our
people that we are familiar with our most attractive to us in fact the people
most attractive to us in fact the people
most attractive to us in fact the people we love are 20% more familiar
we love are 20% more familiar
we love are 20% more familiar to us and the final thing ladies and
to us and the final thing ladies and
to us and the final thing ladies and gentlemen is as I was doing the research
gentlemen is as I was doing the research
gentlemen is as I was doing the research for this talk I went online and I found
for this talk I went online and I found
for this talk I went online and I found sites that would rate once
sites that would rate once
sites that would rate once attractiveness based on some of the
attractiveness based on some of the
attractiveness based on some of the metrics that I discussed so I went on to
metrics that I discussed so I went on to
metrics that I discussed so I went on to a site called pretty skill comm and I
a site called pretty skill comm and I
a site called pretty skill comm and I uploaded my picture and it took about
uploaded my picture and it took about
uploaded my picture and it took about three minutes and it scanned my face and
three minutes and it scanned my face and
three minutes and it scanned my face and it came up with the results and I’m
it came up with the results and I’m
it came up with the results and I’m happy to tell you that my rating was 58
happy to tell you that my rating was 58
happy to tell you that my rating was 58 out of a hundred which the site called
out of a hundred which the site called
out of a hundred which the site called not too bad and then it named everything
not too bad and then it named everything
not too bad and then it named everything that was not working with my faith
ladies and gentlemen I want you to fight
ladies and gentlemen I want you to fight these cultural influences that tell you
these cultural influences that tell you
these cultural influences that tell you to ignore beauty as I’ve demonstrated
to ignore beauty as I’ve demonstrated
to ignore beauty as I’ve demonstrated Beauty is built in us we can’t help but
Beauty is built in us we can’t help but
Beauty is built in us we can’t help but recognize it in fact beauty is what
recognize it in fact beauty is what
recognize it in fact beauty is what women look for in a man
women look for in a man
women look for in a man for protection it’s what a man looks for
for protection it’s what a man looks for
for protection it’s what a man looks for in a woman
in a woman
in a woman to help with procreation and I would
to help with procreation and I would
to help with procreation and I would like to end with a quote by poet John
like to end with a quote by poet John
like to end with a quote by poet John Keats and this is what he said beauty is
Keats and this is what he said beauty is
Keats and this is what he said beauty is truth and truth is beauty that is all
truth and truth is beauty that is all
truth and truth is beauty that is all you need to know on earth and all you
you need to know on earth and all you
you need to know on earth and all you need to remember thank you very much
need to remember thank you very much
need to remember thank you very much [Applause]
”
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