You may have heard (and believed) the expression, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but there’s new study that might just turn this conventional wisdom on its head, finding that the conclusions we arrive at after first meeting someone are rather accurate after all.
We know the role that physical appearance plays in creating first impressions, but little research has been done to evaluate the accuracy of those impressions that are based on appearance alone until the unique study that appears in the December 2009 issue of Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
“In an age dominated by social media where personal photographs are ubiquitous, it becomes important to understand the ways personality is communicated via our appearance,” says Laura Naumann of Sonoma State University. “The appearance one portrays in his or her photographs has important implications for their professional and social life.”
Certainly something to think about before you upload that profile picture.
This intriguing study involved more than 100 undergraduate students at the University of Texas, some were assigned to be subjects, the others were personality judges.
Two full body photos were taken of the subjects, in one they posed just as the researchers told them, staring at the camera and not smiling, feet shoulder width apart, hands at the sides. In the next photo the same subject was photographed in natural, spontaneous poses.
Their true personality was gauged by a questionnaire they filled out themselves, as well as surveys completed by three informants who knew them well.
The judges then evaluated the subjects based on the photos for ten personality traits. When looking at the posed photos, the judges were able to guess three traits -extroversion, self-esteem and religiosity.
The more spontaneous photos allowed the judges were able to guess almost all ten traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness, likeability, self-esteem, loneliness, religiosity and political orientation) accurately. The accuracy of the judgments of the subjects was gauged by comparing them to the aggregate of self-ratings and the information provided by the informants.
“We have long known that people jump to conclusions about others on the basis of very little information,” researcher Sam Gosling of the University of Texas says in a written statement, “but what’s striking about these findings is how many of the impressions have a kernel of truth to them, even on the basis of something as simple as a single photograph.”
Continues below…
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First Impressions ARE Accurate Continued…
The team concludes that the results suggest that personality is shown by both static and expressive channels of appearance, and observers use this information to form an accurate judgment.
Judging personality traits in women was found to be harder because females are more likely to be influenced by cultural demands to follow fashion, to look a certain way.
What’s more, you might be able to alter your appearance in subtle ways to lay claim to certain traits, or shape another’s impression of you.
For example, smiling or relaxed poses give the impression of warmth and friendliness. Looking healthy, neat and stylish while standing in an energetic or less tense pose presents you as an extrovert.
Someone more open to experience might not be the neatest dresser, but will have a distinctive style that hints at their adventurous traits.
In light of the work, perhaps the expression should be, “Sometimes you CAN judge a book by its cover.”
Daily Health Bulletin
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