# Can you tell if someone is a jerk just by looks? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 30, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871 "2013-07-30T01:40:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/21 "2013-07-30T07:57:45Z")
Doesn’t even stand aside when someone is passing with a heavy load, likes to stand still in a place where people regularly pass, let’s the person squeeze towards the window seat of the bus instead of siddling his ass to the window and let people get the aisle seat, beats people to the punchline, leaks out the outcome of a movie or a novel, doesn’t wear a tie clip and lets his necktie flap in the wind, comes out of a bar looking mean and staring at people side to side. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/22 "2013-07-30T08:05:42Z")
There’s some sports figures who may be lovely people, but who for some reason attract a following of jerks. I’ve known so many jerks who said “oh, I’m not a fan of [sport] at all, but I’m a total fan of [sportman]!”, for specific sportsmen, that nowadays if I hear anybody say they’re fans of those people I automatically file them under “jerk unless and until proven otherwise”. But they come in all kinds of looks, ages, races, nationalities… One advantage to having had The Gramps from Hell (who was a lovely, charming person, until he decided not to be), is that I can now detect the Jekyll-Hydes from miles away. But it’s not the looks, it’s the mannerisms. Their face and hands may be friendly, but the looks they give you when they think you won’t notice and the rest of their body language are not. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/23 "2013-07-30T08:27:49Z")
In terms of facial expression, I’d say sure, things like a smug smirk are a dead giveaway. In terms of just facial features I’d say probably not, and any correlation is likely because of cause and effect happening the opposite way. e.g. People who look shifty, say, are more likely to be treated like that, and may eventually play up to those expectations, or just find it a little more difficult to do anything that requires people to trust them. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/24 "2013-07-30T12:02:01Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > … > … > > _**In the other direction, we have [Rondo Hatton](http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/h/rondohatton/creeper.htm), whose face was so evil and brutal looking that he got movie roles on the strength of his bad looks alone. He is generally described as a genial man who was religious and considerate. His brutish looks were the result of the disease known as acromegaly.**_ > > Really, you cannot judge a book by its cover. After all, [Jerry Sandusky](http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/jerry_sandusky/index.html) looked like a nice, affable guy, just the sort you’d feel comfortable about teaching kids football and stuff. (bolding mine) Great post, with a very interesting link, to boot. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/25 "2013-07-30T13:42:18Z")
For me, it’s usually the body language, insincere smiles, and a certain amount of how they dress/what they drive. It seems to be a sure bet around here that some guy who’s artfully underdressed in expensive clothing (i.e. buys his casual clothing at Nordstrom) with a BMW and a Rolex is probably something of an asshole in one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/26 "2013-07-30T13:58:14Z")
Chicken or egg? Maybe years of jerkish behavior shows up on your face. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/27 "2013-07-30T14:02:22Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > The guy shown in the photo linked in the OP is Mr. Congeniality compared to [this creepy, snake-faced mofo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bob_Filner_mayoral_portrait.jpg). I feel so sorry for the women who have been harrassed by such a horrible-looking man. Doesn’t he look like the Grinch? ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/28 "2013-07-30T14:03:08Z")
Oh, you can spot them in Jersey or the Hamptons from a mile away. There’s even a Facebook page for sharing! > **[Douche spotter | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/douchespotter/)** > > The world is full of douchebags its time to document them. this is a public photo sharing forum and the administrators are not responsible for any comments that may be made that are hurtful in any... ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/29 "2013-07-30T15:56:22Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Yes, you can - they wear white-framed sunglasses and Abercrombie & Fitch t-shirts. 🙂 Ha! I was going to say the same thing, substituting Affliction t-shirts. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/30 "2013-07-30T16:21:45Z")
I can tell. The jerks tend to wear ordinary clothing, have ordinary hairstyles and mannerisms, and act just like the non-jerks, so they really stand out in a crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/31 "2013-07-30T17:16:53Z")
You can spot 'em by the three neon green slash marks emblazoned on the back of their pickups. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/32 "2013-07-30T17:35:15Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > Ha! I was going to say the same thing, substituting Affliction t-shirts. Ed Hardy t-shirts also works. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/33 "2013-07-30T17:36:31Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Oh, you can spot them in Jersey or the Hamptons from a mile away. > > There’s even a Facebook page for sharing! > > [Douche Spotters | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/douchespotter/) After looking through that, I don’t think I will _ever_ go to the Hamptons. That’s a very high per capita centre of douchebaggery, there. And the guy running the site seems to be a huge douchebag, too. Huh. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/34 "2013-07-30T18:52:32Z")
Tara Reid’s boyfriend in _Sharknado_. Absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/35 "2013-08-01T01:28:47Z")
Well, there’s [this guy](http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Bundy.jpg). People described him as [“kind, solicitous, and empathetic.”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Bundy) ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/36 "2013-08-01T04:05:07Z")
> [@madrabbitwoman](#): > > I have a sure fire method involving t shirts and sometimes tattos (any mention of "bitches, Ho’s or the making of sandwiches) That’s a pretty good method, though of course it depends on how the person WANTS to be perceived. Some people seem to think that “aggressive attitude” means “cool person”, when it’s not always the case. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/37 "2013-08-01T04:11:50Z")
[http://www.worldcrunch.com/tech-science/science-has-identified-the-features-of-a-trustworthy-face/face-judgment-stereotype-study-personality-shape-criminal/c4s10636/](http://www.worldcrunch.com/tech-science/science-has-identified-the-features-of-a-trustworthy-face/face-judgment-stereotype-study-personality-shape-criminal/c4s10636/) [http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/graphics/080817\_face/](http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/graphics/080817_face/) [![](http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Graphic/2008/08/16/1218944207_1389.gif) ](http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Graphic/2008/08/16/1218944207_1389.gif) Those are the facial features that appear trustworthy vs untrustworthy. I can’t wait for the terminators to find this info. On a personal note, I was looking up people from HS. I saw a photo of one and thought he looked like a pedophile. So I looked up his name and sure enough, sex offender list (possession of CP). Who knows what that was about though. I have no idea if anyone has studied the ‘creepy sex fiend’ traits. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/38 "2013-08-01T06:57:44Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I saw a photo of one and thought he looked like a pedophile. So I looked up his name and sure enough, sex offender list (possession of CP) :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871/39 "2013-08-01T07:10:27Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > That’s a pretty good method, though of course it depends on how the person WANTS to be perceived. Some people seem to think that “aggressive attitude” means “cool person”, when it’s not always the case. “Aggressive attitude” could also mean the person wants to be left alone:rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-if-someone-is-a-jerk-just-by-looks/664871.md?page=1)