Report on the topic “Predictors of increasing an individual’s physical attractiveness using the examples from 93 countries.”

On March 28, 2023, another seminar of the Center for Sociocultural Research of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, “Culture Matters,” took place. As part of this seminar, Dmitry Igorevich Dubrov, PhD in Psychology and researcher at the Center for Sociocultural Research, associate professor of the Department of Psychology, made a report on the topic: “Predictors of increasing an individual’s physical attractiveness using the examples from 93 countries.”

Dmitry reported  that people all over the world and throughout history have taken care of their appearance. The question is, what variables predict such behavior? Data from a survey of 93,158 participants from 93 countries show that behaviors such as applying makeup or other cosmetic products, grooming hair, dressing, taking care of body hygiene, and exercising or following a certain diet to improve their physical attractiveness, are culturally universal. The strongest predictor of this behavior is social media use. The results obtained were actively discussed during the discussion. Listeners were also interested in whether this research would be developed. The author of the report said that the topic also evokes a response in the media and, from a scientific perspective, he is interested in developing it and offering it to students for coursework.