A History of Beauty

Beauty is commonly defined as a subjective feature of objects which makes these objects enjoyable to see. These objects include sunsets, landscapes, art and humans. However, beauty, with art and beauty, is also the prime concern of aesthetics, another of the important branches of psychology. The discipline of aesthetics concentrates on the visual aspects of life in all its forms. This includes how an object relates to the physical, psychological and sociological reality.

The study of beauty has given rise to the term ‘glamour’. It can be described as the product or the end result of beauty, with glamour being the most attractive aspect of beauty. For instance, when we see ugly faces we comment that they are ugly. However, the very opposite happens when we watch beautiful women on screen. In the study of glamour, we find that beauty is not the creation of beauty but of beauty imitating or complementing other attributes of beauty.

A study made by a famous French doctor, Sausau, shows that we can alter our appearance by applying certain kinds of cosmetics on our skin. He says that it is possible to change the face shape, lips tone, height and structure, by using these products. He goes on to say that it is not the face itself that constitutes beauty but the combination of facial structures. Similarly, according to him, the use of cosmetics plays an important role in giving us the confidence to gain popularity and hence influence others. He goes on to define beauty according to the 16th century as the natural beauty of a woman, or a man, which is determined by her hair, eyes, skin and nails.

According to Sausau, beauty comes from the combination of Greek qualities. He says that a Greek woman should have soft pleasant features, long hair, big breasts, large lips, pale skin and dark eyes. Conversely, he argues that Greek men should be vigorous, strong, well muscled, and well hung. Sausau goes on to say that a Greek male has to be fair-skinned, clean-shaven, well balanced and with dark eyes.

The use of cosmetics during the 16th century had undergone a drastic change. For instance, Greek women used to wear a thick wavy hair tied back using flowers. However, by the time of the Persian invasion of the 16th century, women wore their hair completely exposed and long and straight cut.

Beauty is defined by the Greek physician, Hippocrates as the balance between body and soul, and the resultant beauty being reflected in the face, body and soul. Other factors which contribute to the beauty include the temperature of the skin, hair color, complexion, the color of eyes, the length of hair and the thickness of nails. Other things which contribute to beauty are the physical aspects, such as height, weight, symmetry and the position of the body. However, the most significant factor that contributes to beauty is a person’s attitude. A person with an attitude of beauty is a person who takes good care of himself, has high intellectual ability, and who is beautiful inside and out.

We often hear the term “sports” when we use the word “toy”. But what is meant by “sport”? In general, sports are organized physical activities and competitive events. Almost all sports are competitive. This is the main difference between recreational, entertainment or leisure. In games like soccer, basketball, tennis and track and field, there is a level playing field.

As an athlete in any sport, you need to train your body and mind. In extreme sports like skydiving, motor sports, aerobics and surfing, the training is more intense. The athletes train very hard to achieve their goals. As an athlete in extreme sports, you need to pay attention to your mental and physical skills. This is very different from recreational, leisure or ice skating because of the added stress on your body and the focus on improving your athletic performance.

Sports injury can happen during any competitive or strenuous athletic activity. Most sports injuries are mild to moderate and do not require medical treatment. However, some sports injuries, especially those that can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, should be treated immediately. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can cause temporary disability and death. Heat exhaustion can occur just after vigorous exercise or during cold seasons when the temperature outside is low.

One of the most common sports injuries during sports is a strain, sprained, torn or broken muscle. Sprains occur when a team member pulls his/her hamstring. When a muscle is strained, it will usually become slightly irritated and it may be necessary to take medication for a short time. A tear in a ligament (like the shoulder’s acromion) may also require surgery if it is severe. Heat stroke is a physical activity-related disease that can happen just before, during or after physical activity like exercising or engaging in a sport that requires high physical exertion.

Many sports injuries occur because of overusing a particular skill or activity. Overuse of muscles, ligaments or tendons can lead to an increased risk of strain or injury in a sportsman. The sportsperson may not even be aware that he/she has overused their muscles or that they have overused their joints. Sports related muscular pains and strains can be symptoms of a more serious condition such as tendonitis, bursitis, or a separation of the tendon into two parts.

Sports participation is a very important aspect of our lives. We compete with one another to advance ourselves in sports, to be better at sports, to win more games, to get more awards or prizes. The purpose of competition among athletes is to increase their skills and knowledge and hopefully achieve their goals. However, too much competition can also cause mental health problems, especially in athletes competing at a level beyond their ability. When competition ends, we often appreciate the important mental attributes of sports, we learn to value the time that we had spent competing and we also have the chance to take a step back and evaluate whether our decision regarding the importance of that specific sports event is right or wrong.