Size, skills, and suffrage: Motivated distortions in perceived formidability of political leaders.

ABSTRACT: Research shows that perception of physical size and status are positively associated. The current study was developed to replicate and extend earlier research on height perceptions of political leaders, indicating that supporters perceive their leaders as taller than non-supporters do, and winners are perceived as taller after the elections, while losers are perceived as shorter after the elections (winner/loser effects). Individuals use greater height and strength as indications of greater physical formidability. We hypothesized that in-group leaders' height and strength, but not weight, would be overestimated more compared to out-group leaders', and that this status-size association is not only driven by dominance, but also by prestige. We also tested whether previously found gender effe

SUBMITTER: Knapen JEP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5739394 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature