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The old proverb “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is meant to discourage people from drawing conclusions about someone based on their outward appearance. However, a new study suggests that there is a certain amount of information to be gained from observing a person’s exterior features. Specifically, it’s possible to determine if someone is rich or poor based on their facial expression.
The study was done by researchers at the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto. Posting their findings in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the results have significance to anyone who might be wondering why opportunities keep evading them. For one thing, being judged based on one’s facial expression can lead to rejection when applying for a job.
The researchers basically conducted an investigation using photos of two individuals and had “perceivers” judge these subjects’ socioeconomic standing. A neutral expression was necessary because it produced more telling results.
“Indeed, neutrally posed rich targets displayed more positive affect relative to poor targets and perceivers used this affective information to categorize their social class,” the paper reads. “Impressions of social class from these facial cues also influenced participants’ evaluations of the targets’ employability, demonstrating that face-based perceptions of social class may have important downstream consequences”
In its essence, the study proposes that by simply looking at a face with a “neutral” expression, it is possible to determine that person’s financial situation. As Thora Bjornsdottir, one of the researchers behind the study notes, even the smallest of details regarding the face can influence numerous aspects of life, Phys.org reports.
"It indicates that something as subtle as the signals in your face about your social class can actually then perpetuate it," Bjornsdottir said. "Those first impressions can become a sort of self-fulfilling prophesy. It's going to influence your interactions, and the opportunities you have."
