http://blogs.colgate.edu/2008/02/keating-analyzes-candidates-ex.html Latest comments for Keating analyzes candidates' expressions for TV stations en-us Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:23:31 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.1 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://blogs.colgate.edu/2008/02/keating-analyzes-candidates-ex.html#comments <p><br /> This analysis by Professor Keating via Anthony Adornato is right-on-target concerning visual cues and the fact that looks, as well as actions, can speak louder than words.</p> <p>Permit me to add that in terms of height, the United States has not elected a person shorter than the national average for the past 42 elections, which goes back 170 years to Benjamin Harrison in 1888. Now, today’s adult male average height is 5’9” and Barack Obama stands at 6’1-1/2”, which with a 4-1/2 inches height advantage certainly bodes well for him on this dimension for his presidential pursuit. And, for Hillary Clinton, with a height of 5’6”, she also stands substantially taller than today’s adult female average height of 5’3-1/2”.</p> <p>On the other side of the proverbial aisle, John McCain has the benefit of a mature face, at least compared to Barack Obama whose face is much more youthful, maybe too youthful. A solid research study published a few years ago in “Science” found that candidates with perceived greater competency based on face appearance factors won their 2004 elections in 72 percent of the U. S. Senate campaigns and 67 percent of the U. S. House of Representatives campaigns. Those researchers concluded that despite strategies and assumptions about electorates basing votes on rational, deliberated consideration, considerations based on a person’s looks clearly contribute and may override all other considerations when casting votes. </p> <p>The research data comprising the above “Science” article may provide potentially pertinent perspective for a potential McCain-Obama match-up this fall. In carefully executed research procedures, people perceived a more mature-faced individual to be more competent, intelligent, and better able to provide leadership, versus a more baby-faced adult.</p> <p>Dr. Gordon Patzer<br /> author of "Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined"<br /> <a href="http://www.GordonPatzer.com">http://www.GordonPatzer.com</a></p> <p>- <a title="http://www.GordonPatzer.com" href="http://www.GordonPatzer.com">Dr. Gordon Patzer</a></p> comment000138@http://blogs.colgate.edu/ Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:23:31 -0500