It seems like people with money get all the attention. There is that image of a high-rolling wealthy guy with a Ferrari and a supermodel girlfriend. There are even sugar daddy websites that codify the idea of wealth being able to get beauty and companionship.
But does money really make you more attractive?
The answer may surprise you. A recent study found that while people do judge others based on their wealth, it doesn’t actually make them more attractive.
The study, published in the journal Psychological Science, found that people were more likely to judge others based on their wealth when they themselves were feeling poor. But when the participants were made to feel wealthier, they didn’t judge others as much based on their wealth.
So it seems that it’s not money itself that makes people more attractive, but rather the way we feel about money. When we feel poor, we see wealth as a more important factor in attractiveness. But when we feel wealthy, we don’t judge others as much based on their wealth.
So if you’re looking to be more attractive, it’s not necessarily about having more money. It’s about how you feel about money. If you can learn to feel wealthy, even if you’re not, you may find that you’re more attractive to others.
But then again…
However, the stigma still exists. That image of the rich guy with the Ferrari. Conversely, we have seen poor characters in movies and TV who are ridiculed for their looks or lack thereof.Â
Some people seem to think money does increase attractiveness. A 2013 study found that men who were perceived as being wealthy were rated as more attractive than those who were not. And a 2014 study found that people associated wealth with physical attractiveness in both men and women.
Other Factors
But does having money actually make you more attractive? It’s hard to say for sure. One problem is that it’s difficult to disentangle the effects of wealth and physical attractiveness, since they are often confounded. For example, wealthier people may be able to afford better clothes and grooming, which could make them appear more attractive.
And then there are other factors that could play a role, such as confidence. It’s possible that people who are perceived as wealthy are also perceived as more confident, and confidence is attractive.
So while there is some evidence that wealth can make you more attractive, it’s far from clear that it’s the money itself that’s doing the trick. It could be that it’s just a proxy for other qualities that are attractive, such as confidence or grooming.
What Qualities do Partners Find Attractive?
So what qualities do partners find attractive? A recent study asked people in relationships to rate the importance of different qualities in a partner. Here are some of the most important ones:
- Being kind and understanding
- Having a good sense of humor
- Being trustworthy and honest
- Being physically attractive
- Having similar interests
- Being a good listener
- Being financially stable
As you can see, financial stability is just one of many qualities that people find attractive in a partner. It’s not even in the top three. While money can be a stressor in relationships, having functional romantic partnerships is about far more than money.
Factors in Functional Relationships
One partner being wealthy is no guarantee of a functional relationship. Relationships require hard work, and there are many factors that contribute to their success. Here are some of the most important ones:
- Good communication
- A willingness to compromise
- A willingness to work through conflict
- Shared values and goals
- A sense of trust
- A sense of support
These are just a few of the many factors that contribute to functional relationships. Money is only one piece of the puzzle, and it’s far from being the most important piece.
If you’re looking for a functional relationship, don’t focus on finding a partner with a lot of money. Instead, focus on finding a partner with whom you can communicate well, who shares your values, and who is willing to work through conflict. These are the qualities that will make or break your relationship, regardless of how much money you have.
Conclusion
So it seems that if you’re looking for a partner, you’re better off focusing on other qualities besides wealth. But if you’re looking to be more attractive, it may not hurt to focus on feeling wealthy. After all, it’s not just about the money itself – it’s about how you feel about money. And if you can learn to feel wealthy, even if you’re not, you may find that you’re more attractive to others.
