In one recent study, unfamiliar viewers were able to select studio-controlled images of unfamiliar faces that accentuated traits associated with specific scenarios: for example, selecting images for a resume that accentuated impressions of competence, relative to other images of that individual (Todorov & Porter, 2014, Experiments 2 & 3).
There was a significant main effect of gender of candidate on impressions of competence, F (1, 71) = 4.37, p<0.0001 (see Table 1).
Although impressions of competence from facial appearance are ubiquitously predictive of voting behavior, both male and female voters are more likely to vote for female politicians who not only appear competent, but also attractive.
Contrary to the notion that people use deliberate, rational strategies when deciding whom to vote for in major political elections, research indicates that people use shallow decision heuristics, such as impressions of competence solely from a candidate's facial appearance, when deciding whom to vote for.
Contrary to the notion that people use deliberate, rational strategies when deciding whom to vote for in major political elections, research indicates that people use shallow decision heuristics, such as impressions of competence made solely from facial appearance when deciding whom to vote for [4].
Their tight internal organisation gave an impression of quiet competence that proved highly successful at the polls.
Though no naval war hero, the 42-year-old arrives on these shores already giving the strong impression of navigational competence in choppy waters.
A street light that has burnt out and isn't repaired quickly is likely to have much more of an effect on a voter's impression of government competence than an editorial in the New York Times.
The difficulties of managing behavior disorders and the multiple medications were previously found in studies on small populations [ 3, 29], and, notably, was proposed as one of the factors explaining the GPs' impression of insufficient competence.
