Elected in 100 milliseconds: Appearance-based trait inferences and voting

Christopher Y. Olivola; Alexander Todorov

doi:10.1007/s10919-009-0082-1

Elected in 100 milliseconds: Appearance-based trait inferences and voting

Christopher Y. Olivola, Alexander Todorov

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

266 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent research has shown that rapid judgments about the personality traits of political candidates, based solely on their appearance, can predict their electoral success. This suggests that voters rely heavily on appearances when choosing which candidate to elect. Here we review this literature and examine the determinants of the relationship between appearance-based trait inferences and voting. We also reanalyze previous data to show that facial competence is a highly robust and specific predictor of political preferences. Finally, we introduce a computer model of face-based competence judgments, which we use to derive some of the facial features associated with these judgments.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	83-110
Number of pages	28
Journal	Journal of Nonverbal Behavior
Volume	34
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10919-009-0082-1
State	Published - 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Social Psychology

Keywords

Face perception
First impressions
Political decision making
Social cognition
Voting

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10.1007/s10919-009-0082-1

Cite this

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title = "Elected in 100 milliseconds: Appearance-based trait inferences and voting",

abstract = "Recent research has shown that rapid judgments about the personality traits of political candidates, based solely on their appearance, can predict their electoral success. This suggests that voters rely heavily on appearances when choosing which candidate to elect. Here we review this literature and examine the determinants of the relationship between appearance-based trait inferences and voting. We also reanalyze previous data to show that facial competence is a highly robust and specific predictor of political preferences. Finally, we introduce a computer model of face-based competence judgments, which we use to derive some of the facial features associated with these judgments.",

keywords = "Face perception, First impressions, Political decision making, Social cognition, Voting",

author = "Olivola, {Christopher Y.} and Alexander Todorov",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments We would like to thank Howard Friedman, Joann Montepare, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions and insightful comments, as well as Valerie Loehr, Anesu Mandi-sodza, Nick Oosterhof, Manish Pakrashi, and Jenny Porter for their excellent research assistance. We also thank Gabriel Lenz and Chappell Lawson for allowing us to use their data. This research was supported by a SAGE Young Scholar Award to AT and a Woodrow Wilson School Social Policy Fellowship to CYO.",

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doi = "10.1007/s10919-009-0082-1",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "34",

pages = "83--110",

journal = "Environmental Psychology and Nonverbal Behavior",

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T2 - Appearance-based trait inferences and voting

AU - Olivola, Christopher Y.

AU - Todorov, Alexander

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments We would like to thank Howard Friedman, Joann Montepare, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions and insightful comments, as well as Valerie Loehr, Anesu Mandi-sodza, Nick Oosterhof, Manish Pakrashi, and Jenny Porter for their excellent research assistance. We also thank Gabriel Lenz and Chappell Lawson for allowing us to use their data. This research was supported by a SAGE Young Scholar Award to AT and a Woodrow Wilson School Social Policy Fellowship to CYO.

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - Recent research has shown that rapid judgments about the personality traits of political candidates, based solely on their appearance, can predict their electoral success. This suggests that voters rely heavily on appearances when choosing which candidate to elect. Here we review this literature and examine the determinants of the relationship between appearance-based trait inferences and voting. We also reanalyze previous data to show that facial competence is a highly robust and specific predictor of political preferences. Finally, we introduce a computer model of face-based competence judgments, which we use to derive some of the facial features associated with these judgments.

AB - Recent research has shown that rapid judgments about the personality traits of political candidates, based solely on their appearance, can predict their electoral success. This suggests that voters rely heavily on appearances when choosing which candidate to elect. Here we review this literature and examine the determinants of the relationship between appearance-based trait inferences and voting. We also reanalyze previous data to show that facial competence is a highly robust and specific predictor of political preferences. Finally, we introduce a computer model of face-based competence judgments, which we use to derive some of the facial features associated with these judgments.

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KW - First impressions

KW - Political decision making

KW - Social cognition

KW - Voting

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Elected in 100 milliseconds: Appearance-based trait inferences and voting

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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