Being ugly could help you earn more than attractive people | Men's Health Magazine Australia

Why Being Ugly Could Help You Earn More

The ugly truth: being unattractive could help you snag a higher salary. While previous studies have found beautiful people tend to earn more than their unattractive counterparts, researchers from the London School of Economics and the University of Boston have found being hit with the ugly stick can also pay. The researchers interviewed and measured […]

The ugly truth: being unattractive could help you snag a higher salary.

While previous studies have found beautiful people tend to earn more than their unattractive counterparts, researchers from the London School of Economics and the University of Boston have found being hit with the ugly stick can also pay.

The researchers interviewed and measured the physical attractiveness of 20,000 young people over a 13-year period, finding that participants labelled as ‘very unattractive’ always earned more than those simply described as ‘unattractive’ – and often earned more than average looking and attractive people. Overall the more extroverted and conscientious people were, the more they earned.

The researchers speculate that the results may reflect a diligence dividend as beautiful people are often more open to experiences and activities outside of work, whereas unattractive people are more likely to be narrowly-focused on their careers.

Related: Having Sex Once A Week Feels Like a $50,000 Raise

“Could this openness-attractiveness association be an indicator that some of the very unattractive scored especially low on openness and were perhaps highly devoted to a specific topic area, pursuing it obsessively to the exclusion of all distractions and eventually entering the forefront of their field?’ he asks. ‘We know that openness correlates negatively with the passion component of ‘grit,’ so such effects are conceivable.”

Whether you’re easy on the eye or a certified mirror-shatterer, try using some verbal dexterity to increase your chances of landing more lucre:

SAY THIS!

CERTAIN WORDS, UTTERED FREQUENTLY, MIGHT MAKE YOU RICH

Do you “not understand those market figures”, or do you “not understand them yet”? Punctuating the end of your statements with the word “yet” broadcasts your ambition and potential, says Dr Leslie Becker-Phelps, a clinical psychologist.

Cartoon of man saying yet

Men’s Health

In a study from the University of Illinois, people who pumped themselves up using “you” solved significantly more anagrams than than those who went with “I”. Just keep it down would you? We don’t want to hear you talking to yourself all day.

Cartoon of man saying you

Men’s Health

Hey, boss: when people work together on a tough project, they stick with it 48-64 per cent longer than when they go it alone, a Stanford study found. Why? Collaboration makes the task more interesting and each participant feels more personally motivated.

People saying together

Men’s Health

Stop wasting time on bad ideas. Warren Buffet famously observed that successful people say no all the time. But when you shoot down the boss’ plan, just be sure to replace it with something better, says Debra Benton, author of The CEO Difference.

Man listening to no

Men’s Health

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