Communication Between Cultures

more attractive. In the United States, 23 percent of women and 19 percent of men

now have tattoos.^12

The importance of appearance can be seen daily in each of your personal interac-

tions. Whom you approach and whom you avoid, particularly in regard to first impres-

sions, might well determine future interaction or, indeed, if there will be any

interaction. Concern with personal appearance is not confined to the West. It can

be found in every culture. People from around the globe have been altering the way

they appear for thousands of years. As far back as the Upper Paleolithic period (about

40,000 years ago), your ancestors were using bones for necklaces and other body orna-

ments. From that period to the present, historical and archaeological evidence has

shown that people are fixated on their bodies. The alterations to their bodies have

helped them“tell”others about who they are and where they belong. They have

painted them, fastened objects to them, dressed them, undressed them, and even

deformed and mutilated them in attempts to have some control over how they

appear.

Judgment of Beauty

An important component of appearance is the perception of beauty. In the West, this

fascination with beauty begins early. For example, many department stores and online

businesses now offer a complete line of beauty aids to preteens. There are numerous

studies that clearly document the advantages and disadvantages of being attractive.

And many of these pros and cons surface at an early age. Knapp, Hall, and Horgan

cite several studies that conclude that young students who are attractive are more

popular and are perceived to be“more intelligent, more socially adept.”^13 These posi-

tive perceptions toward being attractive become more magnified during adulthood.

Whom you select to avoid and/or approach is often determined by a person’s attrac-

tiveness. Studies reveal, at least in the United States, that attractive individuals are

Tattoos are often used

to express identity.

Courtesy of Ed McDaniel

Appearance 303

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