paper-machine comments on Be Happier - Less Wrong

108 [deleted] 16 April 2012 01:51AM

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Comment author: wedrifid 18 April 2012 04:35:44PM 14 points [-]

The outlines of the performance theory seem good, and it feels introspectively correct as well. But if happiness is a high-status marker, why is it unattractive to women?

I took a look at the paper, and in particular the sample image they include:

My first impression was a lot more attraction to the female 'pride' picture than any of the other female images - while pride in females was found to be highly unattractive. Now I want to determine whether my preferences differ from some norm or whether this picture is an unusual case.

I do allow that much of my preference may have been determined simply due to the combination of hideously unflattering t-shirts and arms being up in the air compensating for that and actually making breasts evident. If giving all the people ghostly shirts was supposed to be some clever attempt to isolate the influence of clothing then it seems somewhat shortsighted. (Mind you if males were consistently not attracted to the 'pride' female despite it being the only one with apparent breasts then that is just all the more significant!)

Comment author: [deleted] 18 April 2012 10:46:21PM 2 points [-]

I don't know; I'm a lot more attracted to the male pride picture, and there's no breasts in that one.

Comment author: Nisan 18 April 2012 10:53:41PM 5 points [-]

There are biceps though :3

Comment author: wedrifid 18 April 2012 11:07:33PM 3 points [-]

I don't know; I'm a lot more attracted to the male pride picture, and there's no breasts in that one.

I'm actually more attracted to the male pride picture than I am to the female neutral and shame pictures - despite generally identifying as a heterosexual male. I don't know or much mind whether it is the same kind of attraction in play but it just seems like there is so much more life emanating from those characters, so I feel drawn to them.