The Evolution of Attraction

November 15th, 2006 Fred McVittie Posted in Charisma, Evolution |

The various terms which cluster under the general heading of ‘attractiveness’, (charm, charisma, presence, etc.) and the related terms which are assumed to be causally linked to this attractiveness (power, beauty, leadership, authority, pathos, etc), refer to states of being in which the actions (and presumably inner states) of one entity have an attractive effect upon another. It is likely that these various actions evolved, at least partly, because of this attractive effect they produce and the concommitant adaptive value of such attractiveness. It would make sense for the gestures of pathos to be ‘attractive’ as they would then be likely to stimulate the person attracted to provide help. It would also make sense for the gestures of beauty to be ‘attractive’ as this would lead directly to mating success. It would make sense for the gestures of leadership to be attractive as this would give status gains to the leader (and, presumably, a direction to those attracted by such leaders.)