What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
A new study coming out in the August issue of the Journal of Research in Personality, vindicates all those "judgers" of the world, who have made countless, swift and immediate assumptions about other people based solely on their shoes. You know who you are.
Interested in how people formed quick first impressions about others, Dr. Angela Bahns, an assistant professor of psychology at Wellesley College discovered,
“people were able to correctly judge a stranger's age, gender, income, political affiliation, emotional and other important personality traits just by looking at the person's shoes,”
with 90% accuracy.
As an introvert, this is very exciting news. I can now justifiably avoid whole groups of people just by looking at their shoes. “It's not me, it's you. Your unkempt, scruffy brown 40-year-old 'Birks' accurately warn me a conversation about the Koch brothers, organic farming, and climate change is imminent.”
Participants in the study were asked to look at a pair of shoes and then guess,
“gender, age, social status and different personality traits of the owner, like whether the owner was an extrovert or introvert, liberal or conservative and the degree of their emotional stability, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness.”
The results were so accurate, researchers concluded, “...people do wear shoes that reveal their personality, whether they intend to or not.”
Ready to find out what your shoes are telling the rest of us?
- Expensive shoes tell us you have money
- Flashy and colorful shoes tell us you’re an extrovert
- Older, clean and well cared for shoes are the sign of a conscientious person
- Practical and functional shoes tell us you’re agreeable
- Ankle boots indicate you’re a more aggressive personality
- Uncomfortable looking shoes tell us you're calm
- Shabby, less expensive shoes are the hallmark of liberal thinkers, and “flip flop wearing hippies.”
- Boring shoes tell us you have difficulty forming relationships
- And the surprise finding, subjects were able to identify “needy clinginess” from brand new, clean, well-kept shoes. Researchers aren’t sure how people were picking up on this trait, but somehow, like Far Side spamalopes cautiously eyeballing passing lions, participants were wary about the people in these shoes.
Just for fun, I thought I’d ask Ricochet readers to make some assumptions about our famous footwear volunteers. What are these shoes telling us about the people wearing them?
1.
2.
3.
4.
(In as much as the internet is a reliable source, these shoes belong to the following: 1. Grace Kelly, 2. Ronald Reagan, 3. Hillary Clinton, 4. Rick Perry)
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Dec '11
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
I post that Jimmy Carter could love. :)
Feb '11
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
I think I must be one of the people who kept this from going to 100% accuracy. I wasn’t able to form any [interesting] hypotheses about these folks based on the shoes. I assumed person (1) enjoys relaxing (because her feet are up) and that person (2) likes the brown and blue combination. And I couldn’t get over the orange pants of person (3), which reminded me of prison garb. But the shoes don’t look like the sorts of shoes people wear in prison. So I concluded that this person doesn’t spend a lot of time around prisons and doesn’t watch a lot of movies involving escaped prisoners, since (presumably) she would have developed a negative response to those pants. What did I guess about person (4)? My keen detective skills led me to guess this person is from Texas.
Yes, I’m terrible at this game.
Edited on July 30, 2012 at 4:43pmJun '10
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
If I judge people by their shoes, that's news to me. I suppose I notice pink stilettos, or people wearing sandals that shouldn't be wearing sandals, or shoes so shiny that you need sunglasses to see them. But other than that, I couldn't tell you what kind of shoes people are wearing.
Jul '10
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
So my going barefoot most of the time must throw them a curve.
Sep '10
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
At a conferance in Las Vegas last month I was approached by a very attractive woman who, perhaps not surpringly, was working in that business Vegas is famous for that does not involve gambling. I had no interest in hiring her but I'd never been approached by one who didn't look the part so I thought it might be interesting to attempt a conversation. It turns out I was marked by my faux croc loafers that she apparently was not able to determine the faux-ness of. So based on this unscientific survey, guys who wear real croc loafers can afford $1,000/hour "escorts" while us faux-croc guys must content ourselves with light-hearted badinage and domestic contentment.
Mar '12
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
I subscribe to this theory and buy the finding ADP cites in the study. Like any sort of superficial indicator, it's not perfect, but it is useful and often a pretty reliable indicator. Many of us wear uniforms whether we're cognizant of that fact or not. I'm sure those who consider themselves non-conformists wouldn't be pleased with the notion that they're actually categorizing themselves and conforming to a type with their choice of footwear.
Oct '10
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
For years in Afghanistan the giveaway for women in Burkas was their shoes. We could tell immediately what their actual station in life was by the quality and expense of their shoes. It works in most of the world during charitable work. Women in Gucci shoes waiting for a free wheelchair. Look real close and you can also notice a Rolex watch being hidden.
Feb '12
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
A.D.P. Efferson:
As an introvert, this is very exciting news. I can now justifiably avoid whole groups of people just by looking at their shoes. “It's not me, it's you. Your unkempt, scruffy brown 40-year-old 'Birks' accurately warn me a conversation about the Koch brothers, organic farming, and climate change is imminent.”
Last fall, I had a dating couple come in. She was looking for some nice comfy shoes to go off to an Ivy League college. She was drawn to the Birkenstocks, while he was trying steer her toward the Naots and Mephistos (similar shoes that look more feminine.) She couldn't figure out why he cared all that much.
Obviously, I couldn't say that he didn't want people to think she was a lesbian and he was the "beard." (an opposite sex dating partner or spouse used to disguise the fact that one is gay)
Feb '11
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
Just to be clear. I don’t doubt the results of the study. I’m certain I’m marked by what I wear, and that includes my shoes. I just have trouble on the other end of the knowing.
Apr '12
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
My husband, who is a fishing hunting type is meticulous with his business uniform as we are in private equity. He judges a person harshly by their shoes and is usually pretty accurate over the long run. He would be better at this than me. You could have made us guess as I would have had Grace and Hillary reversed. I only saw the names after I wrote my notes, here is what I wrote: I think that number 1. is a woman who wants to be taken seriously, is sensible, Ivey league, intellectual in an advisory role, not the leader, wealthy. Number 2. Shows a maverick wearing non matching shoes. These tend to be those worn by the more entrepreneurial, cut their own path type and they will do it their way. Number 3 is a creative extrovert who should be in theatre or the public eye, they march to the beat of their own drummer but do not follow the crowd. Number 4 is an extrovert in an administrative or banking role. They are a salesperson and go more on feel than the facts.
Jul '12
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
Since the temperature has been around 100 degrees in Omaha I am wearing sandles. What does that tell you? FYI - I am a 51 year old male insurance agent.
Dec '10
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
What does wearing Vibram Five-Fingers or other toe shoes tell you?
Mar '12
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
From the article: Your unkempt, scruffy brown 40-year-old 'Birks' accurately warn me a conversation about the Koch brothers, organic farming, and climate change is imminent.
Really?
I like the Koch Brothers politics as far as I know them but I am not overly attentive to the Koch Brothers and have no plans to change that fact.
I don't raise veggies of any kind. No flowers either. I occasionally take a chainsaw to a tree in case that counts for something.
I'd seriously consider strangling a climate change advocate.
I wear Birkenstocks because they are comfortable.
Apr '11
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
Ah, faux-croc loafers, the key to domestic tranquility and wedded bliss! Who would have known?
Jun '10
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
As it happens, after the tornado in March the only pair of shoes I had left were the ones on my feet. In fact, four months later, these falling-apart, uncomfortable, name brand cross-trainers remain the only pair of shoes I own. I'm an engineer. So what should that tell you?
That I'm too dang lazy to go out shoe shopping. I guess I'm just not desperate enough yet. Please pass me the duct tape.
Edited on July 30, 2012 at 10:20pmAug '10
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
As someone who likes a variety of shoes but is very reluctant to pay over $100 for a pair, I find shopping at the Nordstrom Rack can often satisfy my desire for nice shoes without breaking the bank.
I also think that people who wear flip flops anywhere but poolside or on the beach couldn't care less about their footwear. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against sandals with shorts (although NEVER with socks!) but at least try to find something unique and somewhat stylish. Flip flops are pathetic and almost as bad as Crocs...
Dec '11
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
What an entertaining topic on which to post particularly as I have lived in NYC, LA, and now a resort town in FL. There are, of course, different standards for different environments:
1) NYC: Prada, Gucci, Jimmy Choo classic black pump, Louboutin; some of these may kill your feet but you can always catch a cab. It is important to look good here at all costs.
2) LA: See all of the above, but the good news is that UGG boots and JCrew flip-flops ("slaps" in CA lingo) are perfectly acceptable as well. They're both comfortable and stylish.
3) SW Florida: Gucci sandals, Michael Kors' new line of "Capezio knock-off" sandals, Lilly Pulitzer flip-flops. All perfectly acceptable for anywhere you want to go.
That was just a review of womens' footwear.
Edited on July 31, 2012 at 8:30amRe: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
I have a confession to make, I wear well-loved flip flops everyday. Being just left of Attila the Hun politically, it makes me wonder if the study controlled for "work" v. "everyday" shoes. When I worked in D.C. I was far more thoughtful about what I put on my feet -- to include ridiculously uncomfortable pumps that probably caused neurological damage -- because they made me look taller. According to the study tells you all, I'm a calm person.
Dec '11
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
I have it on pretty good authority that your economist is an extrovert if he looks at your shoes when talking with you.
Dec '11
Re: What Do Your Shoes Say About You?
The Choo black classic pump is truly made for walking with a wider toe and cushioned soles. You can hit the city pavement for miles and miles in this shoe and still maintain the fashion quotient!