Abstract
Cosmetic surgery can be viewed as a means of self-improvement to enhance success in intrasexual competition. However, an excessive emphasis on physical attractiveness often leads to negative emotions and dissatisfaction with one's own body. Nonetheless, having a positive attitude towards one's body can serve as a protective factor against these negative emotions. This study aims to explore the relationship between openness to cosmetic surgery and intrasexual competitiveness, level of body appreciation, and the subjective importance of attractiveness. A total of 512 heterosexual cisgender Hungarian women (M = 23.4, SD = 6.0, 18-60 years) completed an online questionnaire: Intrasexual Competition Scale (ICS), Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), Beliefs About Attractiveness Scale-Revised (BAA-R), and Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS). We found that the subjective importance of attractiveness positively influenced the consideration of cosmetic surgery, whereas body appreciation had a negative impact. The Inferiority Frustration subscale of the Intrasexual Competition Scale exhibited a marginally significant positive effect on attitudes towards cosmetic surgery, while the Superiority Enjoyment subscale had no effect. These results suggest that individuals' subjective perception of their own body and the personal significance they attach to a socially desirable ideal are stronger predictors of acceptance of cosmetic surgery than intrasexual competitiveness.