Metrosexual Men: Vain?

It is an accepted fact that men nowadays have their very own grooming kit like women always have hiding on their bags and suitcases. They bring things such as hairspray, moisturizer, lip balm and other products that “traditionally” only women used few centuries back. These kinds of men are called “maintenance men” or most popularly known as “Metrosexual men”. The term metrosexual was derived from metropolitan and heterosexual that describes a man who is so meticulous about his grooming and appearance. The spread of this metrosexual concept of a man is creeping in a fast pace. This may be because of the several influences that are brought by the sudden leap of technology. Technologies such as televisions, smartphones and the like allow a view of what kind of lifestyle other people have around the world. TV programs showing clean-shaven handsome men and beautiful women bring a thought that you are a prime when you look good and pretty.

Men that are metrosexual give a lot of time and spend so much for their own physical health. These are in fact an advantage of being onto vanity because one can be in tuned with their body’s health and welfare. Almost all of them use products to take care of their skin and body and also subject themselves in diets to maintain their build. A lot of cosmetic products are now available in markets that are only exclusively made for men. With these further advances on cosmetic medicine are underway. Commercials and promotions of these products with male models with fair smooth skin are receiving a lot of attention. Being a metrosexual man is a trend these days. There are even salons for men that offer services that guarantee positive results.

Men with rogue handsomeness are still attractive but women are more drawn to men who look clean-shaven and dresses nicely. This is because clean looking men looks healthy in the eyes. Not all women can be drawn to looks only but also considers ‘what is inside of that clean-shaven face’ trait. Looking handsome in front of females who shower them with affection can boost their confidence of their manhood and increases pride and ego for males. Women like metrosexual guys because they share a goal to be physically healthy. But metrosexual men with a rather egotistical and narcissism character is a big turn off for them.

Being overly vain can lead to serious consequences. Study conducted by Konrath and her team shows that there is a high percentage of narcissism seen in males than in females. This study was conducted by Sarah Konrath along with her colleagues David Rienharth of the University of Virginia, and William Lopez and Heather Cameron of the University of Michigan in which they examined 106 student volunteers with the goal of determining the role of narcissism on cortisol levels that can be measured using the saliva obtained from the participants. Narcissism was assessed by conducting a Narcissism Personality inventory and collecting saliva from participants for testing basal cortisol concentrations in a laboratory setting.

Narcissism is a personality trait that is described by grandiosity, with an inflated sense of self-importance, low empathy and entitlement. Researchers also found out that narcissists simultaneously possess fragile self-views grounded in a sense of inferiority and worthlessness. Because of this when a narcissist experience a thing that dangers his ego he tends to experience stress and his cortisol levels increases.

Men who are vain are not a bad thing but being overly obsessed with vanity has a downhill effect. According to Konrath, et al, narcissism is associated with defensive strategies and this has a lot of physiological consequences. Narcissist are susceptible to a host of unrealistic self-views that are difficult and stressful to continuously maintain. This maintenance is likely to lead to chronic hyperactivation of the physiological stress response system, which can lead to a number of complications such as increased acute cardiovascular reactivity and an acute increase in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate when thinking of stressful things. The said study concluded that males with unhealthy narcissism tend to have high level of cortisol which is a very good indicator of psychological stress.

This goes to show an old saying that too much of anything is bad. Taking a good care of yourself is not a good idea but you still have to put in mind that being overly vain can lead to unhealthy narcissism and serious problems are possible to be born. No matter what the reason of your vanity is, the most important is not to overdo it. It is better that you can monitor not only your physical health but also you emotional, physiological and psychological health.

Author: Anna Michelle Talitod