Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026
09:49
Holistic Facial Composite Creation and Subsequent Video Line-up Eyewitness Identification Paradigm
Published on: December 24, 2015
14.7K
Modification of First Impression Formation and "Personality" by Manipulating Outer Appearance.
Susanne-Marie Hüttner1, Michael Linden
1Research Group Psychosomatic Rehabilitation, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Psychopathology
|January 20, 2017
Summary
Simple changes in a person's hairstyle significantly alter first impressions of their personality. Open, curly hair suggests trustworthiness, while combed-back hair implies reserve, impacting social interactions and stigma.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Personality Perception
Background:
- First impressions significantly influence social interactions and can lead to stigmatization.
- Dysfunctional first impression formation negatively impacts individuals, particularly those with mental disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent to which outer appearance manipulations can alter perceived personality.
- To understand the role of simple visual cues in shaping global impressions.
Main Methods:
- 92 participants rated two photos of the same woman with different hairstyles (combed-back vs. open curly hair).
- Ratings were collected using the Bipolar MED Rating Scale, assessing 23 emotional impressions.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in perceived personality were observed for 16 out of 23 items.
- Open curly hair was associated with being more open-hearted and trusting.
- Combed-back hair was perceived as more reserved, earnest, and defiant, irrespective of participant age or gender.
Conclusions:
- Outer appearance plays a crucial role in forming rapid, far-reaching conclusions about an individual's personality.
- Manipulating appearance offers potential therapeutic avenues for enhancing social interaction and reducing stigma in clinical populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Impression Management Techniques I: Managing Appearances
245
Appearance is a multidimensional aspect of self-presentation that encompasses observable attributes such as clothing, grooming, speech, and nonverbal behavior. These elements are often strategically managed to align with socially constructed expectations in different settings. For instance, individuals tailor their appearance during job interviews, social gatherings, or athletic events to meet the perceived norms of those environments.Contextual Adaptation and Social SignalsThe research...
245
01:25Self-Presentation
341
Self-presentation is a fundamental aspect of social interaction, shaping both how others perceive individuals and how they view themselves. This dynamic process influences behaviors in various social settings, often leading people to adjust their appearance, speech, and demeanor to align with their desired identity. While self-presentation can be deliberate or unconscious, it plays a critical role in interpersonal relationships and self-perception.Forms of Self-PresentationSelf-presentation can...
341
01:19Managing Impressions
190
Impression management encompasses individuals' deliberate efforts to shape how others perceive them during social interactions. This behavior is often employed to conform to social norms, secure approval, or pursue specific goals. While it involves selective self-presentation, it is not necessarily deceptive; individuals frequently present authentic aspects of themselves that align with situational demands.Common strategies include:Ingratiation: where individuals use flattery or agreeableness...
190
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
45.0K
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about...
45.0K
01:09First Impression
299
First impressions play a crucial role in social perception, shaping how individuals assess others in professional, academic, and interpersonal contexts. Psychological research highlights the significance of cognitive biases, such as the primacy and recency effects, which influence how people interpret and recall information.The Primacy Effect and Cognitive AnchoringThe primacy effect describes the tendency for initial information to impact judgment disproportionately. When individuals encounter...
299
01:29Impression Management Techniques II: Ingratiation
193
Ingratiation refers to deliberate behaviors aimed at increasing one’s attractiveness or likability to a target person, often for strategic interpersonal or social gain. This set of impression management tactics is especially prevalent in hierarchical contexts, where influencing someone with greater power or authority can yield significant benefits. Several distinct ingratiation strategies have been identified, each leveraging psychological cues to foster favor and affiliation.Opinion...
193