Thursday, August 03, 2006

The Social Dimension of Hair Loss

The Social Dimension of Hair Loss

Hair plays a significant role in our life. Another person's hair is one of the first characteristics we notice upon meeting. Our own hair is one of the first and last things we attend to before a meeting or a social engagement. Hair disorder, especially when severe, often profoundly affects the lives of those afflicted. Severe hair loss evokes not only cosmetic concerns but may also evoke feelings of vulnerability (nakedness), loss of self-esteem, alterations in self-image, and, perhaps, even self-identity.

In 1992, researchers at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, surveyed 145 men, and found that 84 percent of the balding men were preoccupied with their loss. They described themselves as filled with self-consciousness, helplessness, and envy of men with full heads of hair. Single men and woman who had begun losing hair in their early twenties were more likely to suffer from extremely low self-esteem.

While stressful, balding isn't the end of the world. Although the men reported glancing in the mirror constantly and wearing hats even in warm weather, they manage to make it through their daily lives without much problem. For some it even sparked self-improvement tactics like fiddling with hair styles, working out more, and dressing better. Survey result is shown in the following chart.

How deep does a bald man's anxiety runs?
Reported experience

extent of hair loss


low


high
Notice bald/balding men

54%


82%
spend time looking in mirror at hair

54


69
Look older than actual age

40


55
Feel self-conscious

42


78
Worry that others will notice

39


56
worry about aging

37


46
Feel less attractive

31


51
Envy good-looking men

33


34
Try to improve hair style

63


66
Try to improve physique

41


36
dress nicer

26


45
Wear hats or caps

23


41
Seek reassurance about looks

23


39
Grow a beard or a mustache

18


36

Stereotypes associated with baldness are not flattering. A research back in 1971(2) had been conducted to investigate how one person was perceived by others can be influenced by quantity of scalp hair (regular, balding, and bald) as well as color, length, and quality of scalp hair. Pictures of the same person were presented to 60 judges. Differences in appearances of this person (i.e., experimental conditions of regular, balding, and bald) were manipulated through modifications made by a commercial artist. The results revealed that the person with a regular quantity of hair was rated as most handsome, virile, strong, active, and sharp. The person with a balding head of hair was rated as least potent, weak, dull, and inactive, and the person with a bald head of hair was rated as most unkind, bad, and ugly.

Many other studies also show employment discrimination based on a person's appearance.

Motivation to avoid baldness is not confined to this century. In 1150 BC Egyptian men smear their pates with fats from ibex, lions, crocodiles, serpents, geese, and hippopotamuses. In modern society, this aversion is readily evident from the many available remedies such as creams, hormones, vitamins, hairpieces, wigs, scalp reduction and hair transplants. A government report in 1983 reveals that over the past 9 years the FDA has overseen the investigation of ingredients in about 300,000 products claimed to help hair regrowth, none of them has any medical benefit, of course.

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