What Your Shoes Say About You
This study is in no way shocking. University of Kansas researchers say that people can accurately judge 90 percent of a stranger's personality by looking at their shoes.
"Shoes convey a thin but useful slice of information about their wearers," the authors wrote in the new study published in the Journal of Research in Personality. "Shoes serve a practical purpose, and also serve as nonverbal cues with symbolic messages. People tend to pay attention to the shoes they and others wear."
Personality traits people could figure out include a person's general age, their gender, income, political affiliation, and other personality traits, including someone's emotional stability.
Flashy footwear was worn by extroverts. Practical shoes were worn by more agreeable people. And my favorite of all: ankle boots correlated with aggressive personalities.
Most surprising to me:
There was even a political calculation in the mix with more liberal types wearing "shabbier and less expensive" shoes.
So, what do your shoes say about you?
Footwear image via Shutterstock.
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Comments:
Feb '12
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
It's funny to hear the stories of the former shoe people. That discount comes in handy for assembling an expensive shoe wardrobe. :D
My shoes suggest someone either very rich or who has worked comfort shoe retail for a long time (prices are retail, not what I paid):
4 Finn Comfort (handmade German, $200+/)
1 MBT (those funny looking rocker shoes, $250)
1 Dansko clogs ($120)
3 Beautifeel (handmade Isreali, $220/)
1 Pikolino (handmade Spanish, $150)
1 Kumfs (New Zealander, $130)
1 New Balance (American, $150)
1 Mephisto (French, $135)
2 Sofft (German, $90)
plus assorted riding boots and house brands from the stores I've worked at.
I had a moment of panic when I was flying to China. "If they lose my luggage, that's over a thousand dollars worth of shoes I'd have replace!"
Aug '10
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
My sandals say I'm a liberal know-nothing who still knows better than you about everything. But my sandals are liars, because the Florida summer is the main reason people buy them down here.
My casual shoes say I never bothered to buy new casual shoes after walking in the snow while living up north years ago.
My sneakers say I'm a practical engineer type who is oblivious to fashion, and they are less cavalier with the truth. Sneakers: the most honest of shoes.
Jul '10
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
Charlotte: Boymoose and Idahoklahoman--what is it specifically about that type of shoe that makes it good for weightlifting?
I am honestly curious, knowing nothing about either weightlifting or toe shoes. · 18 hours ago
Balance. I have discovered toes provide balance during lifts like squat and dead lift. If someone would have told me that I would have thought they were smokin crack but its true.
Jul '10
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
Boots on the Table: A black pair of Tony Lama's polished about every 3 months and on their 5th half-sole for every day.
A black pair of Durango with paint and grease splatters for work.
A black pair of Lucchese on their 3rd half-sole for casual dress.
A black-cherry pair of Lucchese Kangaroo for dress.
· 17 hours ago
I think a pair of those Black-cherry kangaroos will probably be owned by me soon. I think some elephant will work as well.
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
"My sandals are liars." I'm stealing this.
Feb '12
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
Charlotte: Boymoose and Idahoklahoman--what is it specifically about that type of shoe that makes it good for weightlifting?
I am honestly curious, knowing nothing about either weightlifting or toe shoes. · 20 hours ago
Because it's like lifting barefoot. Instead of a thick cushy sole under your feet, which is unstable, like lifting while standing on a mattress, you have solid, stable footing. And instead of an arch support holding up your arches, which is like doing curls with your forearms in a cast, you have the muscles in your feet and calves doing their job, which is to hold up your arches.
Barefoot squats give you a safer, more secure platform and better results. Unfortunately, gyms demand you wear shoes. So, my Five Fingers are the next best thing. Actually better than barefoot, since the soles are just thick enough to give you some protection from stuff on the floor.
Apr '11
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
Re toe shoes and weightlifting--thanks, guys! The things one learns on Ricochet...
Aug '10
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
Same here!
Boots on the Table
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
You mean you know the brand names of the shoes you wear?
When you know the names it's easier to find them on the shelf. That way you can hunt them rather than shop for them. Takes about 5 minutes from the time you park the truck until the time you climb back in.
If I could identify a brand that reliably fit my feet, I'd probably do the same thing. I guess I've got weird feet or something.
My husband's theory is is that I spent so much time barefoot as a child that my feet didn't sufficiently deform themselves to fit the modern shoe.
Aug '10
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
Idahoklahoman
Barefoot squats give you a safer, more secure platform and better results. Unfortunately, gyms demand you wear shoes. So, my Five Fingers are the next best thing.
Something similar applies to using treadmills, stair machines, etc, in the gym. Going barefoot puts more spring in your step and strengthens your ankles. But you can't go barefoot in a gym.
Likewise, in many places these days, it is not fun to run barefoot, even when you've got pretty good calluses. Broken glass, rusty wires... Even if you can walk barefoot safely, running gives you less time to avoid hazards and puts more pressure on whatever might puncture your foot than walking does.
Feb '12
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Something similar applies to using treadmills, stair machines, etc, in the gym. Going barefoot puts more spring in your step and strengthens your ankles. But you can't go barefoot in a gym.
Likewise, in many places these days, it is not fun to run barefoot, even when you've got pretty good calluses. Broken glass, rusty wires... Even if you can walk barefoot safely, running gives you less time to avoid hazards and puts more pressure on whatever might puncture your foot than walking does. · 6 hours ago
One caveat to the barefoot-type shoe thing ... most people have very poor walking and running technique. You don't notice it in your regular shoes because you can get away with sloppy walking and running.
The barefoot shoes don't let you get away with anything. If you don't walk properly in them, you will hurt. You will get shin splints. You may get metatarsalgia. Therefore, ease your way into them, letting your own soreness teach you how to move correctly before turning them into your all day shoe.
Mar '11
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
Ditto... but with Jack Purcells, Vans slip-ons, and Reef flip-flops. Being a SoCal boy, this is pretty standard attire in our laid back surf/skate culture. However, out here in the DC area I can feel a little out of place at times.
Edited on June 16, 2012 at 6:14amFeb '12
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
Hi Charlotte, This is Mrs. IdahoOklahoman, an exercise physiologist and physical therapist. The published evidence is still out on the benefit of toe shoes, but in my experience they help protect the feet while offering stability to the arch by positioning the toes correctly and allowing the muscles of the foot to function normally. Aggressive workouts, meaning doing too much too soon, can cause problems, but, overall, toes shoes improve balance and promote lower body support as other workout shoes cannot. FYI, "five fingers" are available in basic black and mine are often mistaken as ballet flats.
Apr '11
Re: What Your Shoes Say About You
Hi, Mrs. I/O! This is so interesting...thanks for chiming in! And welcome to Ricochet! :-)