It's what is on the inside that counts....

It is well known anecdotally that good looking guys are generally arrogant and self-centred, while beautiful women are largely a vain and conceited group of individuals. You would have to ask yourself why would people who have been blessed from nature in the looks department would want to go and spoil it by having a rotten personality?

Having thought long and hard about this (well, for about 5 minutes!), I think it boils down to nurture. If you grow up constantly been told by people around you that you are ugly, useless, stupid or worthless, then I think it is a pretty safe bet that you will develop some pretty serious self-esteem issues. These issues shape a person's psyche and are very difficult to shake off in later life, even if you have developed into a Nobel Prize winning swan. Similarly, if you grow up constantly being told that you are handsome/beautiful and always having attention from the opposite sex, it is inevitable that deep down you will start believing it and taking it for granted.

Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with self-confidence and a healthy self-image. However, the line between this and arrogance and/or conceit is very fine, and alas, too often crossed. While "ordinary looking" people realise that they need a dazzling personality to make up for the lack of a square jaw or perfect symmetry, good looking people tend to think that being beautiful is enough. At best, they feel that they don't have to make an effort (see next post for a natural extension of this!) or at worse, that they are superior to us normal plebs.