<\/p>\n
In our time-strapped world, the idea of a quick fix has never seemed so appealing. But there\u2019s also the fact that, as researchers suggest, humans are \u201ccognitive misers,\u201d meaning we often rely on mental shortcuts to make fast and efficient judgments in new or time-pressured situations. \u201cPeople are\u00a0relatively poor\u00a0at detecting deceptive information\u00a0from others,\u00a0because\u00a0we usually\u00a0just\u00a0take\u00a0them\u00a0at face value,\u201d says Janet Boseovski, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and co-author of Beyond Body Positive<\/em>, whose main areas of research include body image and child development.<\/p>\n With this in mind, it isn\u2019t hard to understand how\u00a0\u201dunscientific\u00a0claims\u2014in which influencers or coaches offer\u00a0quick\u00a0fixes,\u00a0or simple\u00a0strategies\u2014appeal to\u00a0many\u00a0people\u00a0precisely\u00a0because they offer quick and\u00a0seemingly simple\u00a0solutions,\u201d Dr. Boseovski adds. On top of this, says Charlotte Markey, PhD, a professor of psychology and director of the health sciences program at Rutgers University, \u201cA promise like \u2018you can think your way into a better face or body\u2019 offers a seductive sense of control in a culture that constantly tells young women they are being evaluated visually.\u201d<\/p>\n These coaches are peddling an illusion, Dr. Markey continues, pointing out that, \u201cAt the end of the day, a lot of how we look is genetically determined and constrained by our resources\u2014money, time, other responsibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n Manifesting can be understood as a way of trying to escape these constraints, and is a practice people often turn to in difficult times. For instance, in 2020, as COVID lockdowns began, Google searches for \u201cmanifesting\u201d increased by 600%. Post-pandemic, in a time of economic and political uncertainty, it doesn\u2019t feel like a coincidence that the phenomenon continues to be enormously popular.<\/p>\n Laila, 19, is among those drawn to the idea of manifesting beauty as a faster and more affordable way to reach her aesthetic goals, saving her money she might have spent on treatments and expensive products. After manifesting better grades in school, she decided, at age 16, to shift her focus to achieving a slimmer face, clearer skin, and longer hair. Like Lauren, she says the changes were subtle at first. \u201cYou see yourself every single day and you don\u2019t really notice it,\u201d she explains. \u201cThen you look at a photo from a year ago and you\u2019re like, \u2018Oh wow.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n When the placebo effect and puberty collide<\/strong><\/p>\n If it\u2019s hard to rationalize how young women like Lauren and Laila are convinced they\u2019re able to change biological traits like face shape or eye color, there are psychological reasons why some people will report seeing results, says Dr. Markey. \u201cExpectation effects, placebo responses, selective attention, and confirmation bias can all shape what people think they notice,\u201d she points out. \u201cResearch shows that if we believe something to cause a change (we believe in a placebo), we may look at ourselves and think we look better because we expect to.\u201d<\/p>\n