Why is society so obsessed with outer image?

Answer 1

Maggie speak for yourself please.. and to answer your question I simply believe its because that's what the media is shoving down our throats every second.. that's all you see on TV, size zeros and 2 all over.. if maybe celebrities would condone larger sizes and be a bit more open to the differences around us, then maybe society would be less obsessed with outer images and focus more on our inner images :)

..you know looks will only get you so far, one day people will have to realize that you also need a brain, compassion and an actual personality to get you somewhere in life :)

Answer 2

The reality is, ALL societies place preference and emphasis on outer image. If you read the bible, ancient writings of philosophers & text from the middle ages.... societies in some shape or form place a greater importance and emphasis on outer image.

Personally, I think it's wrong... and not a healthy way to think. That said, it will never change, and the best we can do is to be good, decent people who base our friendships and relationships on the person, not what the person looks like and/or wears...

< peace >

Answer 3

It's because people don't usually bother to see and look more behind appearance.

It's also because outer image is like our CV, our profile. It's the first thing everyone notices and therefore we need to take care of it. Because it's the first thing that we see, it is usually the source of the first impression that we make of people. Our physical appearance is the way we expose ourselves, the way we PRESENT ourselves to the world. Wouldn't you want your CV or your profile to look good and presentable?


Think of a house. If on the outside the house looks nice, clean and tidy people will automatically imagine that the inside must be similar and they will have a good opinion about it. But the outer part of the house could be dirty and gloomy, while the inside could be warm, shiny and tidy. That wouldn't matter. As long as the outer part is not presentable and inviting, people think that the inside is not either. Appearance i the first thing that we see, therefore it's like an invitation. If you see a house with a nice outer image, you feel invited to come in. If the outer image is bad, you keep going and you ignore it. That's the bad part about having a bad appearance, because there are a lot of houses out there that are nice on the outside, but dirty on the inside, and a lot that may be dirty and gloomy on the outside but they have an amazing inside. And people, not knowing that, waste a lot of opportunities. And a lot of good, warm house environments are wasted as well. :)

Answer 4

People are obsessed with their outer image because it creates an instant response from the public, giving the certain people displaying it a feeling of "instant gratification" and "instant self-esteem." Why do you think there's a demand for a lot of plastic surgery these days? It's also because it sells in Hollywood and makes people trendy and "in" with the "cool" crowd. People get bling-bling wear, jewellery, tattoos, trendy clothing, fancy cars to drive, etc. If people are wanting and looking for love partners, the outer image gives the best "first impression."

Answer 5

It has to do with a sick mix of:
1. suvival of the fittest, and
2. The distorted importance put on appearance by media that makes survival of the fittest more of a superficial thing.
3. The fact that in the US, we have advanced so far technologically that people don't really have the true human experience that our ancestors had when they really had to rough it and just SURVIVE.

We are hungry, and our whims are satisfied by driving to a window to get take out food.

In the old days, we had to plan eating days or months in advance and work our hands to the bone to get that food. Harvest wheat, heat the fire in the oven, bake the bread; Feed the cow, kill the cow, slaughter the cow, cure the meat, cook the meat.

I could go on and on about how depressed this lack of human experience has caused our society to be, but that is a basic example.

On a lighter note about media shoving false ideals on humanity....It is really out of hand when the media shows us daily that Paris Hilton is the ideal woman. She is frankly not even close to being beautiful. She has the $$ to get her picture on tv 24/7. Mainstream media is the expert in misdirecting our values.

Answer 6

Outer image has an affect on personality and attitude. The better people perceive you, the more self-confident you are.
... And if you improve how self-confident you are, you've improved yourself in your eyes. That's what ultimately matters, is it not?

Answer 7

You are so right, its really a shame. Seems it makes us look very superficial and down right ignorant. But we can make a difference by not falling into that trap! Its really getting old, its seems hardest on women! Personally I feel the media is the #1 reason for most of this. Thanks great question! And as they say never judge a book by its cover.

Answer 8

Because it brings in the money, it's all about image.

Answer 9

It's reality. Appearances do matter, easy to get things done too. That's society nowadays (or always??)

Answer 10

superficial nillys can we go back to plump Renaissance women dancing naked in forests.......