The Right Faces for Right-Wing and Left-Wing Attitudes

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session I
  In Interactive Paper Session: Political Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Abundant research has documented that adults with baby faces are perceived as naive, kind and warm. In contrast, those with mature faces are perceived as dominant, competent and strong. Based on that research, in the current study we assumed that people with babyish faces would be perceived as having left-wing attitudes while mature-faced people would be perceived as having right-wing attitudes. Moreover, based on research documenting people’s preference for those who do not violate expectations, we predicted that people whose faces are congruent with their political attitudes would be perceived as more socially and physically attractive. However, based on research documenting dominance as an important trait for political leaders, especially during times of war, we posited that political candidates who express dovish attitudes would benefit from mature faces. Two experiments we conducted confirmed these hypotheses and documented the role of the participants’ attitudes as antecedents and consequences of these effects.  

Authors

• Nurit Talor, U of Haifa

• Liat Bivas, U of Haifa

• Yael Mosseri, U of Haifa

• Israel Waismel-Manor, U of Haifa