We tend to associate body shapes and different body shapes with personality traits. So when we meet new people, our first impressions of their personality stem, at least in part, from their body shape, according to this study featured in Psychological Science. So prejudices or just predictions?
In summary, research confirms this general propensity to infer a wide range of personality traits simply by looking at a particular subject's physical characteristics. Lead author Ying Hu, a scientist and psychologist at the University of Texas (Dallas), reminds us that this is not a new finding: previous research has shown in particular that we infer a considerable amount of social information by looking the faces of others. However, few studies have looked at whether the silhouette also contributes to these judgments. This research shows that indeed, stereotypes based on body shape can contribute to how we judge and interact with others. Understanding these biases is important to correct these first impressions if necessary.
Silhouette and personality, a predictable association?Is it possible to relate a description of the personality to the silhouette in a predictable way? The researchers show with this experiment that certain silhouette traits almost systematically induce the same impression on the personality, but that overall our judgment remains a little more nuanced: the researchers created 140 body models or realistic silhouettes , including 70 women and 70 men. The 3D silhouettes were generated from random values on 10 different body dimensions, using data from laser scans of real human bodies. The use of these models allowed the researchers to specify the precise physical measurements of each figure presented in the study. 76 participants viewed these bodies from 2 different angles and specified on a list of 30 items those that applied to each body. The items reflected the big five personality traits. The researchers then analyzed whether the participants consistently associated specific traits with certain typical silhouettes.
Systematic associations: In general, participants believed that heavier bodies correlated with rather negative personality traits such as laziness and recklessness. Lighter bodies correlate with more positive traits, like self-confidence and enthusiasm. Pear-shaped bodies are associated with the feminine, broad shoulders with a more virile but also more aggressive, outgoing and irritable personality. More "rectangular" male and female bodies are associated with more passive traits, such as shyness, reliability and warmth.
Specific combinations more reliably associated with personality traits: In additional analyses, researchers find that it is possible to more reliably predict certain personality traits. This is the first time that a study has analyzed the role of more nuanced aspects of the silhouette, beyond height and weight, in the constitution of a judgment of personality.
The silhouette but not only: the authors underline that if the tendency to deduce personality traits from the shape of the body is universal, and sometimes correct, other characteristics, such as attractiveness or gender, interact with this factor to influence our deduction or our first impression.
In short, our a priori judgments remain complex, but the silhouette most certainly participates in it as well.