Ultimately, Frevert points out that focusing too much on your appearance can itself be detrimental if it creates undue stress and anxiety вЂ“ even for those already blessed with good looks.

And it could be fairly easy to lessen the impact вЂ“ if human resources departments give more information about a candidateвЂ™s achievements before an interview, for example. вЂњAnd like many of the shortcuts we use, itвЂ™s not very reliable,вЂќ says Frevert. In a sense, itвЂ™s just a cognitive shortcut for a quick appraisal. вЂњWe have a whole set of cultural ideals about beauty that let us say if someone is attractive вЂ“ and through those same ideals, we begin to associate it with competence,вЂќ says Walker. Frevert and Walker are keen to emphasise that like our conceptions of beauty itself, these influences are superficial and by no means deep-rooted in our biology, as some might suggest. So, as you might have guessed, being beautiful is not a passport to certain happiness вЂ“ though it helps. вЂњYou are being conferred advantages throughout your life, from your schooldays into the workplace,вЂќ says Walker.

One study of MBA graduates found that there was about a 10 to 15% difference in earnings between the most and least attractive people in the group вЂ“ which added up to about $230,000 (ВЈ150,000) over a lifetime. When everything else is considered, more attractive people tend to earn more money and climb higher on the corporate ladder than people who are considered less pleasing on the eye. In the workplace, your face really can be your fortune. вЂњYou become more confident and have more positive beliefs and more opportunities to demonstrate your competence.вЂќ вЂњThereвЂ™s a cumulative effect,вЂќ explains Frevert. WhatвЂ™s more, the bubbleвЂ™s influence inflates over the years. In education, for instance, Walker and Frevert found a wealth of research showing that better looking students, at school and university, tend to be judged by teachers as being more competent and intelligent вЂ“ and that was reflected in the grades they gave them. As a doctor, for example, he canвЂ™t even perform the Heimlich manoeuvre, but somehow managed to drift through medical school thanks to his natural charm.ДЄccording to the available evidence, the bubble is a reality. Jon HammвЂ™s character is remarkably incompetent, yet manages to live in blissful self-delusion thanks to his good looks. To psychologists, this is called the вЂњwhat is beautiful is goodвЂќ heuristic, but fans of the sitcom 30 Rock might recognise this as вЂњ the bubbleвЂќ.

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