University of Kent at Canterbury experts discover how to get the face for success
How David Cameron
(centre) could become a 'hyper-leader' (left) and 'anti-leader
(right)
by Rhona Jamieson
David Cameron and Nick Clegg can put their success as leaders
down to their faces - while some politicians will need plastic
surgery to rise to the top.
Those are the results of a survey by Dr Chris Solomon
and his research team at the University of Kent's Canterbury
campus.
The experts asked 100 people to rank 100 faces in
order of their perceived business acumen and leadership
qualities.
They were then able to decide which features led to success -
and which would make people less likely to follow them.
In men, this equated to a rectangular face with angular
features, focused eyes, a thin straight mouth and healthy skin.
Women thought to be good leaders would have an oval face with
wide, alert eyes, well-defined features and arched eyebrows.
Graphic by Ashley
Austen
Dr Solomon, a senior lecturer in physics, said: "There is
no question that we subconsciously respond to people's facial
appearance in all kinds of ways and it takes most people about
three seconds to form a first impression on someone."
Of the three party leaders, Nick Clegg was deemed to have the
most successful looking "political face" with David Cameron not far
behind.
However, Ed Milliband and Boris Johnson would need to
spend more than £25,000 between them to make them more
"electable", the survey found.
The work they would need would include rhinoplasty, eye bag
removal and chin implants.
But Dr Solomon is not so sure aspiring political leaders should
make a trip down to Harley Street.
He said: "In the US, politicians go to great lengths to make
sure their appearance is immaculate, but I like to think people
here are not quite as shallow as that and once they've had the
opportunity of hearing and seeing somebody they'll form an opinion
based on the actual facts."
24/01/13
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