Inferences of Competence from Faces Predict Election Outcomes

Science ^ | 10 June 2005 | Alexander Todorov,1,2* Anesu N. Mandisodza, Amir Goren, Crystal C. Hall

[shrinkermd]

We show that inferences of competence based solely on facial appearance predicted the outcomes of U.S. congressional elections better than chance (e.g., 68.8% of the Senate races in 2004) and also were linearly related to the margin of victory. These inferences were specific to competence and occurred within a 1-second exposure to the faces of the candidates. The findings suggest that rapid, unreflective trait inferences can contribute to voting choices, which are widely assumed to be based primarily on rational and deliberative considerations

[shrinkermd]

The above is an abstract. It gives the gist of the article. To be sure, fierce partisans, left and right, do make decisions on ideology and issues;however, it appears the muddled middle makes decisionso on a personal basis.

Studies like this go a long way to explain the voter's inclination to prefer "celebrity" candidates over more pedestrian ideologues.

[rhombus]

The findings suggest that rapid, unreflective trait inferences can contribute to voting choices, which are widely assumed to be based primarily on rational and deliberative considerations.

Well gee, thanks professor. I think that study is so obvious even a caveman...

[Uncle Miltie]