Did People Used To Look Older?

Summary

This Vsauce video explores the concept of 'retrospective aging,' examining why people from the past appear older than their years and whether this perception is real or an illusion. It delves into how lifestyle, nutrition, and healthcare changes have contributed to humans aging more slowly today. The video also touches on the influence of names on our physical appearance and the fascinating 'face-name matching effect,' concluding with the idea that our dreams may be shaped by our perceptions, influenced by the era we live in.

Takeaways

• 🕰️ People in the past appeared older at a younger age than they do now, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as 'retrospective aging'.
• 📚 Evidence from Twitter and old photos suggests that individuals from previous decades looked more mature at younger ages compared to today.
• 🧬 Research from Yale and USC indicates that modern humans are aging more slowly due to changes in lifestyle, nutrition, healthcare, and skincare.
• 🔢 The study suggests that between the early 90s and late 2000s, the biological age of people has decreased, making 60 the new 56, and 40 the new 37.5.
• 🦷 Advances in dentistry and orthodontics have significantly altered the appearance of people's faces over the last century.
• 👄 Media representation has shifted to expose larger lips across ethnicities, but the only significant change in facial features over time.
• 👓 Retrospective aging can also be influenced by short-term perspective changes, such as how high school seniors seem older to freshmen but not to themselves as seniors.
• 🎨 Superficial styles, mannerisms, and self-expression can make a significant difference in perceived age, often creating an illusion of aging.
• 👴 The concept of 'retrospective aging' is a mix of reality and illusion, where people in the past aged faster, but current perceptions are also influenced by outdated styles.
• 👕 Dressing in a manner that was once associated with youth can eventually become associated with old age as the people who popularized the style grow older.
• 👓 The idea that people named Mark look a certain way is an example of how names can influence our perception of faces, a phenomenon known as the 'face-name matching effect'.
• 🧐 The 'Dorian Gray effect' suggests that a person's name can influence their physical appearance, potentially due to self-fulfilling prophecies and societal expectations.

Q & A

What is the phenomenon of people appearing to look older in historical photos compared to their actual ages?

The phenomenon, referred to as 'retrospective aging,' suggests that people in historical photos often appear older than they actually were, possibly due to a combination of lifestyle, nutrition, healthcare, and skincare differences compared to modern times.

What evidence supports the idea that people today are aging more slowly than in the past?

Researchers at Yale and USC have found through the comparison of various health metrics like metabolic, cardiovascular, inflammatory, kidney, liver, and lung function that humans today are indeed aging more slowly than their historic counterparts.

How did changes in lifestyle, nutrition, and healthcare contribute to the perception of slower aging?

Changes in these areas have led to improved health and longevity, which in turn affects the physical signs of aging, making people appear younger for longer periods compared to the past.

What role has the use of sunscreen played in the aging process?

The use of sunscreen has been a significant factor in slowing down the aging process by protecting the skin from harmful UV rays, which are known to cause premature aging and skin damage.

How did the study conducted by researchers at Yale and USC measure the slowing down of aging?

The study measured the slowing down of aging by comparing health metrics such as metabolic, cardiovascular, inflammatory, kidney, liver, and lung function across different time periods.

What is the concept of '60 being the new 50' as suggested by the study?

The concept suggests that due to slower aging, the physical and health conditions associated with being 60 years old in the past are now more closely aligned with those of a 56-year-old in the present.

What role have dentistry and orthodontics played in the cosmetic appearance of people's faces?

Dentistry and orthodontics have played a significant role in shaping the cosmetic appearance of people's faces, particularly in parts of the world where these practices are common.

What is the phenomenon of 'retrospective aging' in relation to fashion and style?

Retrospective aging in relation to fashion and style refers to the idea that certain styles or mannerisms, once associated with youth, can over time come to be seen as representative of old age as the people who originally wore them grow older.

How does the perception of age in fashion and style contribute to the illusion of retrospective aging?

The perception of age in fashion and style contributes to the illusion of retrospective aging by associating certain outdated or old-fashioned styles with being old, even if the style itself was once considered youthful.

What is the 'face-name matching effect' and how does it relate to the perception of age?

The face-name matching effect is a phenomenon where people can guess a stranger's name based on their facial features more accurately than would be expected by chance alone. This effect can influence how young or old someone appears to be, as certain names are subconsciously associated with certain age groups or facial characteristics.

How might the expectations associated with a name influence a person's physical appearance?

The expectations associated with a name can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, where individuals may grow up to fulfill those expectations by carrying themselves in ways that they believe are consistent with their names, which can include aspects of their appearance that make them seem older or younger.

What is the 'Dorian Gray effect' in the context of names and physical appearance?

The 'Dorian Gray effect' in this context suggests that a person's appearance may come to reflect the name they were given, similar to the way the protagonist's portrait in Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' ages and reflects his deeds while he remains young.

How do people's perceptions of when old age begins differ based on various factors?

People's perceptions of when old age begins can differ based on factors such as their own age, gender, ethnicity, and health status. For example, people under 65 tend to place the start of old age at an earlier age than those over 65, and women generally perceive old age to begin later than men.

Why do some older people think they dream in black and white?

Some older people think they dream in black and white not because of an aging process, but because they grew up during the era of black and white TV and movies, which influenced their perception of dreams and led them to report more black and white dreams.

What is the significance of the 'time traveling hipster' photo from 1941?

The 'time traveling hipster' photo from 1941 is significant because it sparked discussions about the possibility of time travel and the anachronistic nature of fashion. The man in the photo was dressed in a casual manner that resembled modern styles, leading to speculation that he might be a time traveler, although researchers later explained his attire as typical for the time.