Men with shaved heads are perceived to be more masculine(online.wsj.com)
online.wsj.com
Men with shaved heads are perceived to be more masculine
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443862604578032541863652264.html
16 comments
Actually, since male-pattern baldness is driven by testosterone (more accurately, a testosterone derivative called DHT), it makes sense that people have evolved to perceive baldness as masculine and dominant. In this case, baldness is a signifier -- a sort of subconscious code -- for a host of other traits that are seen as powerful.
Wiki actually has the complete opposite theory, baldness seems to convey a maturing and calming instead of power and dominance.
"One theory, advanced by Muscarella and Cunningham, suggests baldness came about in males through sexual selection as an enhanced signal of aging and social maturity, whereby aggression and risk-taking decrease and nurturing behaviours increase."
"A study done among South Koreans has shown most people rate balding men as less attractive, if these results generalize to other cultures, any mating benefit must target purely maternal instincts."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgenic_alopecia
So maybe it's because you're ugly but domestic and perceived to be no real threat. Or maybe human nature is more then just animal instinct. Maybe I just wanted to go nananana and call you ugly while I ran my fingers through my head of hair. Maybe it's all of these things.
"One theory, advanced by Muscarella and Cunningham, suggests baldness came about in males through sexual selection as an enhanced signal of aging and social maturity, whereby aggression and risk-taking decrease and nurturing behaviours increase."
"A study done among South Koreans has shown most people rate balding men as less attractive, if these results generalize to other cultures, any mating benefit must target purely maternal instincts."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgenic_alopecia
So maybe it's because you're ugly but domestic and perceived to be no real threat. Or maybe human nature is more then just animal instinct. Maybe I just wanted to go nananana and call you ugly while I ran my fingers through my head of hair. Maybe it's all of these things.
That's about balding men, not shaved heads. The article claims that shaving makes all the difference for balding men. I guess shaving alleviates the effects this wikipedia entry describes.
I was going to say 'ya well, wiki doesn't have a head shaving article, but it would appear I would have been wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaved_Head
It unfortunately only says a little regarding virility.
It does however link to this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichophilia which has the statement "Hair does not in itself have any intrinsic sexual value other than the attributes given to it by individuals in a cultural context." I would suspect baldness (shaved or natural) would be similarly linked entirely to cultural contexts. For instance I doubt most people see Buddhist monks as especially virile.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaved_Head
It unfortunately only says a little regarding virility.
It does however link to this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichophilia which has the statement "Hair does not in itself have any intrinsic sexual value other than the attributes given to it by individuals in a cultural context." I would suspect baldness (shaved or natural) would be similarly linked entirely to cultural contexts. For instance I doubt most people see Buddhist monks as especially virile.
I know I'm fighting an uphill battle here, and being prescriptivist, and derailing the conversation, and all that bad stuff, but could we please stop using "wiki" as an abbreviation for Wikipedia?
Wikipedia is a wiki, not the only wiki. That's why it's called Wikipedia; it's a wiki based encyclopedia. Calling it "wiki" is like calling Encyclopedia Brittanica "encyclopedia" for short. It makes no sense. Would you say "ya well, encyclopedia doesn't have a head shaving article"? No, you would say "Encyclopedia Brittanica" or "the encyclopedia" (if one was clear from context) or "my encyclopedia".
Wikipedia is a wiki, not the only wiki. That's why it's called Wikipedia; it's a wiki based encyclopedia. Calling it "wiki" is like calling Encyclopedia Brittanica "encyclopedia" for short. It makes no sense. Would you say "ya well, encyclopedia doesn't have a head shaving article"? No, you would say "Encyclopedia Brittanica" or "the encyclopedia" (if one was clear from context) or "my encyclopedia".
Walter White in the pilot - full head of hair and a mustache - he's hapless, blown hither and thither on a wayward course by cancerous winds.
Walter White by the end of season 4 - shaved head and a goatee - large and in charge.
Walter White by the end of season 4 - shaved head and a goatee - large and in charge.
See also Sisko in Season 1 of Deep Space 9 vs Sisko in Season 5.
Although I'm struggling to think of many more examples of hairless protagonists outside Star Trek.
Although I'm struggling to think of many more examples of hairless protagonists outside Star Trek.
Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Randy Couture, Vin Diesel...
Out of these, Vin Diesel is the only one who has full head of hair but still shaves it. The rest do it because they are all bald. Just my observation :)
Interesting bit of trivia: for the early casting meetings on TNG, the producers got nervous about Patrick Stewart's baldness, and fitted him with a toupee. It didn't test well, which is probably for the best.
According to Patrick Stewart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXOK-ZVJMaU), a reporter once told Gene Roddenberry that having a bald captain wasn't believable. By the 24th century they will have cured baldness. Roddenberry's responded that, by the 24th century, no one will care.
Love that response.
I also would have accepted the nerdier answer, which is that in the ST universe, humanity went through a whole genetic engineering craze (in the '90s!) that resulted in Khan and a lot of other madness. So we kind of avoided it after that, and just went au naturel with our gene pool.
The franchise actually did make a few attempts to circle back on this topic, usually as a convenient way of explaining why humans in the 24th century aren't all perfectly fit, hyperintelligent, post-Singularity badasses. Genetic engineering had become a taboo. This was highlighted in a DS9 episode, where Julian Bashir was hiding the fact that his parents GE'd his intelligence, coordination, etc. It was illegal, and he was worried he'd be kicked out of Starfleet.
I also would have accepted the nerdier answer, which is that in the ST universe, humanity went through a whole genetic engineering craze (in the '90s!) that resulted in Khan and a lot of other madness. So we kind of avoided it after that, and just went au naturel with our gene pool.
The franchise actually did make a few attempts to circle back on this topic, usually as a convenient way of explaining why humans in the 24th century aren't all perfectly fit, hyperintelligent, post-Singularity badasses. Genetic engineering had become a taboo. This was highlighted in a DS9 episode, where Julian Bashir was hiding the fact that his parents GE'd his intelligence, coordination, etc. It was illegal, and he was worried he'd be kicked out of Starfleet.
Here's one more: Michael Chiklis in The Shield.
Ah, very true, yes - and he's definitely in the uber-manly-man role there.
Matthew Inman used the characters from Breaking Bad for an in-depth analysis called the Proximity to Violence vs. Amount of Hair on One's Head
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/breaking_bad_hair
I think there's something to it about the active choice of a shaved head - I started going bald fairly early (around 18), and shaving my head really seemed to change people's perceptions of me for the better.
Of course, it could just be that I became more comfortable and confident after it.
Of course, it could just be that I became more comfortable and confident after it.
Well part of that is that (if you do it right, too thin or lanky and you look like a cancer patient) purposely shaved bald looks far better then naturally thinning.
That it does look better probably helped with your comfort level and confidence.
That it does look better probably helped with your comfort level and confidence.
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Yes!! Grade 0.5 all over, and toying with grade 0 or using a razor.
What I want to know though is when will the US have a bald president? I always thought good hair was a pre-requisite.
What I want to know though is when will the US have a bald president? I always thought good hair was a pre-requisite.
It is true that the taller candidate typically wins elections. It wouldn't surprise me if there were a significant correlation between hair and votes.
Eisenhower is probably the closest we've come to a bald president.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EisenhowerChiefofStaffPort...
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1675631,00....
Eisenhower is probably the closest we've come to a bald president.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EisenhowerChiefofStaffPort...
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1675631,00....
Thanks for the links. I wonder if it could happen now people can see the candidates more on TV (and hatless)?
As I understand it, a lot of the population didn't even know Roosevelt was in a wheelchair, something that would be impossible today.
As I understand it, a lot of the population didn't even know Roosevelt was in a wheelchair, something that would be impossible today.
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They will if Patric Steward ever runs...
There's a great interview with Patrick Stewart where he talks about his experience acclimating to baldness, I highly recommend it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXOK-ZVJMaU
I think same goes for being even remotely fit. Not necessarily muscular, but at least not overweight at all.
Or perhaps I'm just envious to those who can tolerate themselves as bald, and don't look like eggs. :)
Or perhaps I'm just envious to those who can tolerate themselves as bald, and don't look like eggs. :)
Men with shaved heads are perceived to be more masculine, dominant and, in some cases, to have greater leadership potential than those with longer locks or with thinning hair... Wow - my bald head makes me look more masculine. That's definitely a shocker.
Things change over time. I was talking to my father about the birth of the original (non racist) skin head movement in the UK. He said that the two enduring images of shaven heads in popular psyche, were of those in mental asylums, and people from concentration camps.
So initially it was about subverting something that was wildly seen as a mark of weakness and abuse. He said there were article and letters questioning why young men would allow themselves to appear like this, and it was at the time in no way seen as masculine.
So initially it was about subverting something that was wildly seen as a mark of weakness and abuse. He said there were article and letters questioning why young men would allow themselves to appear like this, and it was at the time in no way seen as masculine.
If I shave my head, I would look like a round potato. Forget about anything related to masculinity, machoness etc. ppl just laugh at me.
Seems reasonable that bald people seems to be percieved more masculine, men as well man as women. Although I'm not sure if baldness makes those people more atractive. I think it's that they did something unusual. They gained more self confidence and people love self confidence.
In fact, I have dreadlocks and people like it, because I look healthy and self confident. I think it's even better than bald head. In XXI century agression is no longer advantage - charisma and inteligence are much more efficient these days.
However, a bit of masculine look may help women, they seem to look very atractive with no hair. Maybe not every woman, but I know women that looks good with no hair.
In fact, I have dreadlocks and people like it, because I look healthy and self confident. I think it's even better than bald head. In XXI century agression is no longer advantage - charisma and inteligence are much more efficient these days.
However, a bit of masculine look may help women, they seem to look very atractive with no hair. Maybe not every woman, but I know women that looks good with no hair.
Not to mention what one saves by not having to get a professional haircut.
A lot less than the shaving cream costs.
Shaving soap.
Also see double edged razors.
Also see double edged razors.
I started using the soap, brush, and DE razor about 3 years ago. A year ago, I shaved my head to start off a new job with something different. Maybe I haven't mastered the technique, but the last time I tried the DE on the head, I butchered up my scalp. I suppose practice would help, but I'm too timid to try after the first attempt. I'll stick with the electric shave and touch-ups with dollar-store triple-blade razors for the head.
I haven't shaved since May, and now that bead-head is once more a big problem, I might shave before the fall temps get too cold.
I haven't shaved since May, and now that bead-head is once more a big problem, I might shave before the fall temps get too cold.
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Well a small consolation is better than none.
Does it mean they are more attractive to women? not sure about it. Rich men are for sure ,wether you have hair or not.
And it puts in you great company with (for example) Mussolini, who started shaving his head when his hair began to thin.
On the other hand, Stalin and Hitler both had full heads of hair, as did Pol Pot. Chavez looks like he has a good amount of hair, too, likewise Saddam Hussein. Pinochet and Kim Jong-Il both looked like they were thinning towards the ends of their lives, but didn't apparently feel the need to do much about it. I can't find much evidence about Gadaffi one way or the other, other than a few shots that suggest he was at least not going bald at the front (and certainly not the sides).
So all in all, it looks like responding to male pattern baldness by shaving one's head does not correlate especially well with becoming a dictator.
But then again, correlation is not causation, and that goes both ways.
So all in all, it looks like responding to male pattern baldness by shaving one's head does not correlate especially well with becoming a dictator.
But then again, correlation is not causation, and that goes both ways.
I would think that Mao Zedong would be the most obvious balding dictator who didn't shave his head.
How exactly Chavez, an elected leader of a sovereign country, not a dictator or a mass murderer or anything, fits in the company of people mentioned here?
Or is it just a generic list of people that Americans are told "are bad persons", because some are indeed dictators and others just stand in the way of the foreign exploitation of third world country and it's natural resources?
Or is it just a generic list of people that Americans are told "are bad persons", because some are indeed dictators and others just stand in the way of the foreign exploitation of third world country and it's natural resources?
[deleted]
I don't really know how to respond to this, but if any offence was caused then I apologise...
No hard feelings.
It's just uncomfortable for people to see their _elected_ leader demonized along with Hitler and mass murderers, especially if said leaders just concern themselves with their own, sovereign country, business.
Doubly so in a region where foreign invasion and intervention has started many dictatorships and cost many casualties.
It's not Chavez that did this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/29/guatemala-experimen...
Or this: http://www.alternet.org/world/us-funded-death-squads-el-salv...
It's just uncomfortable for people to see their _elected_ leader demonized along with Hitler and mass murderers, especially if said leaders just concern themselves with their own, sovereign country, business.
Doubly so in a region where foreign invasion and intervention has started many dictatorships and cost many casualties.
It's not Chavez that did this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/29/guatemala-experimen...
Or this: http://www.alternet.org/world/us-funded-death-squads-el-salv...
My goal is to get to become so cynical that I only believe what I read in Dr. Seuss books.