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GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION
Throughout time there have been many conceptualizations of beauty. From each different field of study, and from every different culture and perspective, beauty can be given unique descriptions and definitions. Here, psychological and other theories of beauty are reviewed, and the impacts of these culturally held perceptions are identified. Pathological pursuits of beauty and its dire consequences for mental health, including eating disorders, are addressed as well.
The course is comprised of 11 articles. The first article identifies the ways in which the perception of beauty has changed over time and notes some of the negative influences that these changes have had for women. The second article comments on how perception of one's own beauty impacts how others see us. The third article reviews psychoanalytic theories of beauty. The fourth and fifth articles address some of the genetic factors which influence the perception of beauty. The sixth and seventh articles note the negative impacts of the media on women's self-perceptions, and the next three articles comment on the pathological consequences of the pursuit of beauty. Finally, the last article provides resources and links for further review of the subject.
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