Whether we want to admit it or not, we all judge to some degree. Within seconds of meeting or seeing someone, we decide on a number of extremes about him or her, from how trustworthy they seem to how smart we think they are. It is what we know as first impressions. Sometimes we are wrong, other times we are right.
But what does science say about our appearance?
1. If we consider an attractive person, we assume that he also has other positive traits.
Many studies have attested this when referring to the workplace: the most beautiful people tend to receive a higher salary at work. It is what is known in psychology as the ‘halo effect’, in which we assign in addition to its positive appearance, other qualities such as intelligence and commitment.
2. From a photo we can obtain a precise description of the personality.
In a 2009 study, researchers showed participants photos of 123 students at the University of Texas at Austin (USA) in which the students had a neutral expression or were allowed to pose as they pleased. Regardless of posture, viewers judged with great accuracy: how outgoing they were, how high their self-esteem was, how religious they were, how personable they were, and how conscientious they were.
3. Our face can give us clues about how aggressive we are
A small 2013 study by researchers at the Center for Behavior Change at University College London (UK) suggested that men with higher testosterone levels were (unsurprisingly) more likely to have wider faces and cheekbones bigger. Men with these facial features also tend to have more aggressive and impulsive personalities.
4. Faces that inspire little confidence are more likely to be associated with the criminal.
It’s unclear why some of us inspire more confidence than others, but this quality can have life-changing consequences. A team of researchers from Israel and the United Kingdom had volunteers look at photos of men and women who had been randomly selected from two photographic databases (the first, a police database, and the second, expert-controlled photos) and they rated the emotional state, personality traits, and criminal appearance of the people photographed. Regardless of where the photos came from, people who were rated as less trustworthy and more dominant also tended to be considered criminals. In controlled photos, angry faces were seen as the most criminal.
5. Health problems that can be seen by looking into the eyes
Doctors can diagnose numerous conditions simply by looking at the eyes. So, for example, red spots on the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, can be a sign of diabetes. When blood sugar levels get too high, this can block the blood vessels in the retina, causing them to swell and burst.
6. Height could reveal the risk of certain diseases
Several studies suggest that taller people have a lower risk of heart disease, while shorter people may have lower rates of cancer.
