Physical features help recognize and identify each person.
A characteristic or particularity is known as a trait . The physical , meanwhile, refers to the body or the external constitution of an individual.
Physical traits , therefore, are the properties , particularities or qualities that can be observed in a person's body. Eye and hair color, build, and height, for example, are physical traits.
Physical traits, signs of identification and recognition
Every physical feature is part of the appearance of a human being . They are signs that help identification and recognition because they can be seen with the naked eye. Of course, in many cases they are not enough evidence to know if the person we have in front of us is really the one we are looking for, because there are many in the world who have a great resemblance to each other.
In this way, when searching for a missing young person or a suspect in a crime, to mention two possibilities, it is common for their physical features to be made known so that all members of society are in a position to collaborate with the search. If you want to find a man of about 40 years old with brown hair and light blue eyes, a slim build and an approximate height of 1.70 meters, this list of physical features is useful to find the subject in question.
The diversity
At first glance, we can point out certain physical features common to each region, of each country, although this generalization has very little validity. For example, we tend to think that Germans are blonde and have light eyes, but in reality we will find very diverse people in Germany. This occurs for two main reasons: immigration and the union of native people with foreigners, which has led to a diversification of races in almost the entire world.
The topic of physical traits is fascinating from the point of view of genetics , because we always find new combinations of shapes and colors . Except for people who dedicate their energy to hating those who do not look like them or think differently, diversity is a spectacle that nature offers us in all its areas and that gives life an unparalleled color. Let's imagine for a second how boring our daily lives would be if we all looked the same.
It is important to mention, finally, that physical traits are often associated with stereotypes . Linking a skin color to crime or a hair tone to a reduced intellectual capacity are common practices that lack logic and are harmful on a social level due to the stigmatization they generate.
Prosopography and ethopeia
It should be noted that the description of physical traits is known as prosopography . If the description focuses on the psychological or moral values, it is called ethopeia . Prosopography and etopeia , in turn, are combined in the portrait .
The description of physical features is known as prosopography.
In the field of literature, prosopography refers to the description of height, features and build, among other physical traits. From its origins it served to complement the preparation of biographies , since it allows the person to be contextualized in a social group.
Returning to etopeia, it offers us a more characteristic view of the individual, since it analyzes his character, his way of being, something that is not necessarily related to the social environment . A physical description does not tell us who the subject is; a psychological one, however, yes.