The Dark Logic of LooksMaxxing - Dr Debra Soh
Williamson and Dr. Debra Soh explore the psychology behind "looksmaxxing" — the extreme cosmetic procedures and body modifications young people are pursuing to optimize their appearance. The discussion reveals that these trends are driven less by attracting the opposite sex and more by intrasexual competition (competing with same-sex peers), with men and women optimizing for different traits that often backfire in actual romantic attraction.
Key takeaways
- • Gen Z is pursuing extreme cosmetic procedures (breast augmentation, laboplasty, jaw surgery, cheek fat removal) at younger ages, often influenced by pornography and unrealistic beauty standards on social media.
- • Young women under 30 are getting facelifts and eye lifts to appear in their mid-20s — the peak fertility window — despite having no signs of aging to justify extensive work.
- • Looksmaxxing in men is primarily intrasexual competition — optimizing for formidability (jawline, cheekbones, brow definition) to impress other men rather than attract women, who actually prefer slightly feminized faces with masculine bodies.
- • Research shows men's formidability ratings (ability to win a fight) predict sexual success far better than women's attractiveness ratings, suggesting men are unknowingly optimizing for the right trait for the wrong reason.
- • Young men may be projecting their own preferences onto women, assuming females care about extreme masculinity when data suggests women prioritize wealth, status, and resources over hyper-masculine appearance.
- • Excessive cosmetic surgery in women can backfire by masking natural health and fertility cues that men unconsciously use to assess attractiveness.
Mentioned (2)
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