Height Matters

Intuitively, the notion that adult height substantially impacts the lives of both men and women is not surprising. Height is a major determinant of sexual attractiveness, physical prowess, and a host of psychological factors. Taller people tend to be more attractive, better at sports, and more respected as leaders than those of shorter stature. In childhood especially, height can alter perceptions of self-confidence that will last a lifetime.

It is then perhaps not surprising than researchers have found several substantial correlations with adult height. In a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, significant positive correlations between adult height and social esteem, leader emergence, and performance were found. Height was slightly more related to success in men, but the sex difference did not reach statistical significance. Even more concretely, researchers found a significant positive correlation between height and income, even after controlling for sex, age, and weight.

The study comprises a meta-analysis of the literature as opposed to a single data point, further validating its claims. As evidence mounts for the considerable role of stature in income and social image, it seems that the market for drugs and surgeries to augment adult height may enlarge considerably. Studies have already pointed to pharmacological means by which parents might increase the maximal height of their children. The only question, it seems, is one of ethics and side effects, but there has never been a better justification.