5 surprising ways
others judge you
When you meet someone
for the first time or simply pass a stranger on the street, it’s human nature
to make assumptions about them: He’s conceited and lazy, she’s rich and
friendly, that little girl is a huge brat.
And you may have wondered what people think of you the first time they lay eyes
on you.
“When it comes to
appearance, how you put yourself together matters more than being
conventionally pretty,” says Brandy Mychals, author of How
to Read a Client from Across the Room(McGraw-Hill, 2012). “A job interview can be over before you even sit down
because the person has already made snap judgments.”
Some of the ways others come to those opinions aren’t
what you may expect. Check out these five things people rate you by so you can
make that tenth of a second count and wow everyone at first sight.
1. Your Feet Do the
Talking
You can never have too
many shoes—and people judge you based on every single pair. In a study
published in Journal of
Research in Personality, researchers found that people could accurately
guess a stranger’s age, gender, and income simply by looking at what was on
their feet. They also associated certain personality traits with different shoes.
More masculine-looking pairs were thought to be worn by less agreeable people,
while stylish or attractive shoes were assumed to be donned by rich,
conscientious folks. And people rocking those ankle boots that are so in right now came across
as aggressive.
2. Cosmetic Powers
Brushing on a little
shadow or blush can not only up your attractiveness
factor, it can make you appear more confident. In a 2011 study funded by
Proctor & Gamble and performed by Harvard University,
people said women wearing a little makeup were more likeable, competent, and
trustworthy than those with bare faces.
But don’t use a heavy
hand with that eyeliner:
Too much makeup still made women attractive, but they also seemed untrustworthy
and dishonest, especially when participants only got a quick glimpse of the
woman.
3. Grin and Bear It
Your dentist is about to become your most popular
medical practitioner. Earlier this year, Kelton Research conducted a study with Invisalign where more than 1,000 people were shown pictures of men
and women’s teeth. Those with straight smiles were perceived to be happier,
smarter, and more successful and popular than those with crooked teeth.
Thirty-eight percent
also said crooked choppers would kill the chances of a second date, and almost
half said that when two job candidates had the same skills and experience, one
with straight teeth would be hired over one with crooked
teeth.
4. The Clothes Make the
Woman
While Hillary Rodham
Clinton rocks the pantsuit—and certainly nobody would doubt her confidence or
competence—showing a little leg (tastefully, of course) may work better for
you. Women in skirtsuits were thought to earn more money and be
more confident than those in pantsuits in a study conducted at the U.K.’s University of Hertfordshire.
The researchers say the skirt balances professionalism with attractiveness
without being provocative.
Wearing the right outfit can also change your
self-perception, researchers at Northwestern
University’s Kellogg
School of Management found. Students who wore white lab coats while doing a
scientific experiment performed better than those in regular clothes.
5. Take Up Space
Simply standing tall can speak volumes.
According to a 2011 study published in Psychological
Science, so-called “posture expansiveness”—where you open up the body and
occupy space—not only makes you appear more confident and authoritative, you
actually think and act that way. Posture matters even more than your title: It
gives you a sense of power, no matter where you line up on the totem pole,
researchers say.
reference:
Jene Luciani - Shape Magazine.com
