Facial appearance affects voting decisions

Anthony C. Little; Robert P. Burriss; Benedict C. Jones; S. Craig Roberts

doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2006.09.002

Facial appearance affects voting decisions

Anthony C. Little
, Robert P. Burriss
, Benedict C. Jones
, S. Craig Roberts

Department of Psychology

University of Liverpool
University of Stirling
University of Aberdeen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

341 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Human groups are unusual among primates in that our leaders are often democratically selected. Faces affect hiring decisions and could influence voting behavior. Here, we show that facial appearance has important effects on choice of leader. We show that differences in facial shape alone between candidates can predict who wins or loses in an election (Study 1) and that changing context from war time to peace time can affect which face receives the most votes (Study 2). Our studies highlight the role of face shape in voting behavior and the role of personal attributions in face perception. We also show that there may be no general characteristics of faces that can win votes, demonstrating that face traits and information about the environment interact in choice of leader.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	18-27
Number of pages	10
Journal	Evolution and Human Behavior
Volume	28
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2006.09.002
Publication status	Published - Jan 2007

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

Dominance
Elections
Leadership
Masculinity/femininity
Social cognition
Vote
War time/peace time

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2006.09.002

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2006.09.002

Cite this

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title = "Facial appearance affects voting decisions",

abstract = "Human groups are unusual among primates in that our leaders are often democratically selected. Faces affect hiring decisions and could influence voting behavior. Here, we show that facial appearance has important effects on choice of leader. We show that differences in facial shape alone between candidates can predict who wins or loses in an election (Study 1) and that changing context from war time to peace time can affect which face receives the most votes (Study 2). Our studies highlight the role of face shape in voting behavior and the role of personal attributions in face perception. We also show that there may be no general characteristics of faces that can win votes, demonstrating that face traits and information about the environment interact in choice of leader.",

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year = "2007",

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T1 - Facial appearance affects voting decisions

AU - Little, Anthony C.

AU - Burriss, Robert P.

AU - Jones, Benedict C.

AU - Roberts, S. Craig

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AB - Human groups are unusual among primates in that our leaders are often democratically selected. Faces affect hiring decisions and could influence voting behavior. Here, we show that facial appearance has important effects on choice of leader. We show that differences in facial shape alone between candidates can predict who wins or loses in an election (Study 1) and that changing context from war time to peace time can affect which face receives the most votes (Study 2). Our studies highlight the role of face shape in voting behavior and the role of personal attributions in face perception. We also show that there may be no general characteristics of faces that can win votes, demonstrating that face traits and information about the environment interact in choice of leader.

KW - Dominance

KW - Elections

KW - Leadership

KW - Masculinity/femininity

KW - Social cognition

KW - Vote

KW - War time/peace time

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DO - 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2006.09.002

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33845276222

SN - 1090-5138

VL - 28

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EP - 27

JO - Evolution and Human Behavior

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IS - 1

ER -

Facial appearance affects voting decisions

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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