Since Scottish singer Susan Boyle's stellar performance on 'Britain's Got Talent' reminded us all that it's what inside that matters most, our society's obsession with good looks has been a hot topic. Ms. Boyle took second place Saturday in the finals of the show, amid a backlash against her sudden celebrity.

    Now comes a new study showing that personal appearance shapes not only people's attitudes toward our talents, but our ability to make money as well. Being good-looking directly increases the chances that you'll make a lot of money on the job, compared with people who aren't attractive, based on ratings of photographs by unbiased observers, says the study published recently in the Journal of Applied Psychology.

    Given these findings, employers should 'make an effort to reduce the effects of bias toward attractive people in the workplace,' say University of Florida researchers Timothy Judge, Charlice Hurst and Lauren Simon.

    The authors make a compelling case based on previous research that good-looking people get more of almost every good thing from birth from medical attention in the hospital after birth, to positive treatment in school from both teachers and peers. 'This leads to a positive spiral' toward a better self-image and higher attainment through life, the study says.

    Like many parents, I found myself trying to help my kids understand and oppose 'lookism,' or prejudice against unattractive people, starting around middle school. The University of Florida study suggests many of the things parents do normally, including promoting education and self-worth in kids, can help vaccinate them against this kind of prejudice. Being well-educated still carries more weight than appearance in determining success at work, the researchers found. A positive self-image helps too, as measured by answers to such questions as 'I often feel helpless in dealing with the problems of life,' or, 'When I look at the story of my life, I am pleased with how things have turned out so far.' And of course, it helps to guide your child toward good grooming and clothing choices, to help them make the most of what they have.

    Readers, have you seen bias in favor of good-looking people where you work? How about in your children's schools? Have you found a good way to talk with them about it?

    来自苏格兰的苏珊大妈（Susan Boyle）在选秀节目英国星光大道（Britain's Got Talent）上星光熠熠的表演提醒了我们，人的内在才是最重要的；此后我们就在一直热议这个社会对外貌的过分关注问题。在对她突然成名的争议声中，苏珊大妈最终在上周六的总决赛中屈居亚军。

    一唱成名的苏珊大妈现在一项新研究显示，人的外表不仅会影响人们对我们才能的评价，还影响着我们挣钱的能力。《应用心理学期刊》（Journal of Applied Psychology）最新公布的一项研究显示，按照无偏见观察人士对图片的评分来看，与外表没有吸引力的人相比，外表出众会直接增加你在工作上多挣钱的机会。

    佛罗里达大学的研究人员贾奇（Timothy Judge）、赫斯特（Charlice Hurst）和西蒙（Lauren Simon）表示，从这些结果来看，雇主们应该努力减少在工作上以貌取人的偏见影响。

    根据此前的研究，研究作者们提出了一个引人瞩目的说法：长相好的人从生下来就几乎占尽了便宜──从出生后在医院获得更好的照看，到后来得到学校老师和同学的青睐等等。研究称，这会引发朝向更好的自我形象以及更高的人生目标的良性循环。

    和很多父母一样，我发现从孩子进入中学起，我就试图帮助他们了解和反对以貌取人，避免对外表平平的人持有偏见。佛罗里达大学的研究显示，父母平时所做的很多事情，例如对孩子倡导教育和自我价值，都可以帮助他们摒弃这种偏见。研究人员发现，在评定工作成就方面，受过良好教育仍然比外表出众更有份量。一个积极的自我形像也能够有所帮助，这一点从"我常常在处理人生问题时感觉到无助",或是"当我回首自己的人生时，对迄今的人生之路感到满意"等一些问题的答案可以看出来。当然，如果你能引导孩子学会良好的着装打扮选择，帮助他们尽可能地展现自己的优点，这肯定是件好事。

    读者们，你们有没有发现自己的工作场所存在偏向于长相好看的人的情况？你孩子的学校又如何？你有什么好方法和他们谈论此事？