Maximizing Appearance: The PSL Scale Among Gen Z
So, there’s this new trend among Gen Z pick-up artists—it’s all about ranking people based on looks. They’ve created a pretty superficial scale that stretches from “subhuman” (basically, extremely unattractive) to “terra chad,” which represents an almost impossible level of beauty.
Some of the celebrities at the top of this ranking system? Angelina Jolie, Margot Robbie, and model Jordan Barrett are among those deemed most attractive.
The scale is known as the PSL scale, incorporating elements from various misogynistic online communities—Pickup Artist Hate, SlutHate, and Lookism. This viewing lens seems to have captured the attention of TikTok users over the last few years, as noted by reports.
Essentially, this concept comes from a group called Looksmaxxers, who are mainly teens and twenty-somethings trying to enhance their appeal in the dating world. Their methods include everything from a quirky “meowing” exercise meant to reshape the jawline to, well, spending thousands on cosmetic surgery. They even consider extreme techniques that are, frankly, quite risky.
Looksmaxxing is often linked to the “incel” community—a group that attributes their dating struggles to women’s perceived superficiality, among other things.
To guide followers to achieve these beauty ideals, a roadmap has emerged, resembling a hands-on version of the classic “Hot or Not” rating. It’s like, “Here’s your guide to beauty,” based on a pyramid system.
The PSL scale evaluates beauty through four aspects: “Harmony,” or how well features complement each other; “Dimorphism,” indicating how distinctly one looks from the opposite sex; “Angle,” regarding the sharpness of features, which often connects to lower body fat; and “other characteristics,” covering everything from eyebrow thickness to skin clarity.
Each rating falls between 1 and 8, with the lowest tier defining “demi-humans,” who score between 0.25 and 1.5. These individuals are labeled as “very unattractive and often deformed.” They mention that revealing their faces can be quite alarming and reference figures like the “Elephant Man” as examples.
Most people find themselves in the “normie” category, which has sublevels. The lowest of these, called “Low Tier Normie,” spans scores of 1.5 to 3, representing a basic mid-range unattractiveness. Celebrities such as Ed Sheeran, Jay-Z, and Sandra Bernhard fall into this bracket.
The upper tier, rated between 4.5 and 5.5, represents individuals deemed “attractive and good-looking,” akin to the most appealing person in a small group. Names like Justin Bieber, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Zendaya populate this section.
The top 1% is known as the “Chadolites” and “Stacilites,” scoring between 5.5 and 6. Some of these names include Ana de Armas and Cillian Murphy.
As for the crème de la crème, the Giga Chad and Giga Stacy fall between scores of 7.25 and 7.75, seen as having “very minimal flaws.” Only a few reach this pinnacle, such as Jordan Barrett and other ethereal-looking actresses.
But the absolute apex of this ranking? That belongs to the “Terra Chad” and “Terra Stacy,” holding scores of 7.75 to 8. It’s a rather mythical designation because achieving total perfection seems nearly impossible. They compare it to divine figures, suggesting it’s a rarity, almost like winning the lottery.
While the PSL scale might come off as silly and shallow, experts warn that trends like Looksmaxxing often blend harmful ideologies into broader society. Recent research highlights how platform algorithms can amplify these views, reaching millions and making threatening beliefs more mainstream.
Lead researchers point to incidents, including a tragic event in 2021, as potential consequences stemming from this toxic mindset.
