You Can Leave Your Glasses on

Glasses Can Increase Electoral Success

Bibliographic Data

ID5338937
AuthorsAlexandra Fleischmann (0000-0001-8290-4561, University of Cologne, corresponding author), Jan Lammers (0000-0002-2647-121X, University of Cologne), Janka I Stoker (0000-0001-5339-1891, University of Groningen), Harry Garretsen (0000-0002-9024-4222, University of Groningen)
Year2019
Volume50
Issue1
Pages38-52
Publication date2019-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1864-9335 • E-ISSN: 2151-2590
PublisherHogrefe Verlag (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1027/1864-9335/a000359
OpenAlexW2886609836
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited73

Does wearing glasses hurt or help politicians in elections? Although some research shows that glasses signal unattractiveness, glasses also increase perceptions of competence. In eight studies, participants voted for politicians wearing (photoshopped) glasses or not. Wearing glasses increased politicians' electoral success in the US (Study 1), independent of their political orientation (Studies 2a and 2b). This positive effect was especially strong when intelligence was important (Study 3), and even occurred if glasses were used strategically (Study 4). However, it did not extend to India (Study 5) due to different cultural associations with glasses (Study 6). Furthermore, while intelligence mediated the effect, warmth did not (Study 7). In summary, wearing glasses can robustly boost electoral success, at least in Western cultures

Competence (human resources · Perception · Aesthetic Perception and Analysis · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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