Susan was standing in line at the grocery store, gazing at magazines displaying images of the superstar Kim Kardashian. She was wondering how a woman can look so perfect, how a person can perhaps be so vain. These images profiled Kardashian’s high cheekbones, her effervescent smile, her curvaceous figure and of course her infamous derriere. After all, her beauty is celebrated in wax at the Madame Tussaud museum in New York City for everyone to view, everyone to admire. Susan patiently waited in line, staring at the magazines, wondering what it takes to be venerated. Must one be physically vain? Is this the road to becoming narcissistic?
Obsessed with Appearance
As stated in the article, Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder for the World Over, “Western culture is increasingly obsessed with physical appearance and beauty, but vanity is nothing new.” Our culture’s obsession with physical appearance and beauty is even taught to middle and high school students in Greek mythology as they learn about the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. Throughout the world, she epitomized the power of love and was a Greek standard of traditional beauty. Aphrodite symbolized the aesthetic of attractiveness - a goddess that every female wanted to be like and every male worshipped.
Even throughout society, we see everyday people getting plastic surgery, having liposuction, adding extensions to their hair, fading their skin, whitening their teeth, receiving a Botox treatment – all in the name of vanity. Attempts to look good have become a necessity, a requirement. Being vain is being taken to a whole new level and the focus has now become looking your optimal best.
This obsession with beauty was the beginning of a growing narcissistic culture – a culture where self-confidence stems from how physically attractive a person is. This predominant ethos is seen in such areas as exercise gyms where upon entering, one will see men flexing their biceps and wearing either tank tops or muscle shirts and women wearing tight shorts, all in an effort to accentuate their big muscles or shapely curves. On cell phones, you will see women and men with sexy smiles or provocative stances – both attempts to appear seductive and attract attention. Even on Facebook, you will see profile pictures of woman in bikinis or men in tight shorts, asking such questions as “Do you like what you see?” in which you are prompted to click on the word “Like”.
As stated in the article Vanity, Greed and Pollution, this “obsession with "Vanity" and the "Self" has become endemic within society” and is creating a narcissistic culture where being physically vain has become the norm. In the book, The Narcissism Epidemic, authors Dr. Jean M. Twenge and Dr. W. Keith Campbell show this culture has even been transferred to both children and pets. “It is now possible for pets to get cosmetic surgery. Pumpkin the dog got liposuction and Bode had a facelift.” This obsession with beauty, with a person’s physical appearance, has detracted from the inner beauty, the characteristics inside a person that makes the person appealing.
What Should We Do?
Begin by asking yourself, “Has society become physically vain? Am I physically vain?” If society at large is promoting a narcissistic culture, we have to shift away from this focus and realize that this image is temporary and even with these physical changes, the preferred outcome may not be attained. Being attractive does not necessarily stem from what is on the outside; start looking at the person that exists on the inside. A person’s personality can also affect how one is perceived. Is she smart? Is he nice? Does he treat others with respect? Unattractive individuals can be seen as attractive if what is on the inside looks amazing. If you are physically vain, conceited and going towards adopting a narcissistic attitude, take a look on the inside and see if you can make your internal characteristics look appealing.
Finally, if you feel you are obsessed with your beauty, you can seek professional counseling. You do not have to be narcissistic but rather a selfless and loving individual.
Sources:
Powell, E.W. Vanity, Greed and Pollution. 7/17/1998. (Retrieved on 2/12/2011)
Science Blog. Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder for the World Over.(Retrieved on 2/11/2011)
Tasha Kelley - By day, I am employed as a school psychologist who works with and assesses children with special needs. I have been blessed with a ...
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