1024-BEAUTY-independence-study_bd.jpgWhile people may associate beauty with good traits (more on that in a sec), a new study suggests that the more attractive you are, the less independent and more into conformity you are.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Open University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was a little complicated. Here's how Sciencedaily described it:

"The researchers recruited 118 university students to serve as 'targets' or 'judges.' The targets completed surveys about their values and their traits. They were then videotaped entering a room, walking around a table looking at the camera, reading a weather forecast, and leaving the room. Each judge saw a videotape of a different target, chosen at random, and evaluated the target's values and traits and then her attractiveness, along with other physical attributes."

What the found was that while pretty people were perceived to be more extraverted and conscientious, well, according to their self-reported characteristics, they weren't. In fact, they were "more likely to endorse values focused on conformity and submission to social expectations and self-promotion." Oh, and they were less independent over all as well.

The word "needy" wasn't actually in the study—that's my adjective because, let's face it, it sounds like the attractive people in this study want everyone's approval and can't just stand on their own. Do I really believe that? I don't know. I could easily make a case that when you're attractive, you don't have to develop the need not to care about everyone else's feelings about you. But, then, if you are attractive, do you really feel pressure to get people to like you more? I'm not sure I follow that line of reasoning. But it would be interesting to look into further anyway.

What do you think here, ladies? Do you think very attractive people could be less secure like this study hints at? And do the findings surprise you? Discuss.

p.s. Do men prefer brunettes? And which of these 14 noses do you have?

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