The halo effect is a cognitive bias that occurs when our impression of a person influences our judgment of their specific skills or abilities. In the context of fitness, the halo effect plays a significant role in how we perceive individuals based purely on their physical appearance or athletic prowess.
It’s the foundation of most fitness marketing!
One manifestation of the halo effect in fitness is the assumption that individuals who have an attractive or fit physique are automatically perceived as healthy, disciplined, knowledgeable and successful in all aspects of their fitness journey.
But this is not always the case.
Sometimes they are just born with a great body. Sometimes they just have perfect proportions to excel at a certain exercise. Sometimes they edit and doctor the images you see. Sometimes they are miserable, half-starved, constantly injured and desperately unhealthy behind the carefully curated mirage of social media.
The halo effect can lead us to attribute positive qualities to these individuals without necessarily having direct evidence or knowledge about their health, habits or expertise.
The halo effect can also work in the opposite direction. Individuals who do not fit societal standards of fitness or have a less aesthetically pleasing physique may be unfairly judged or overlooked. They might face assumptions that they lack motivation, discipline, or knowledge despite having qualities and abilities that go beyond their physical appearance.
Take home message:
Don’t believe everything you see.
Particularly in magazines and on social media.
Appearances alone do not define success, capability or expertise in the realm of fitness!