By ‘Misled’ I meant that signs that are traditionally and unconsciously attached to certain attributes or personalities are not always so linked. The misleading is because of false assumptions by the perceiver.
The ear experiment shows that people realize that someting is wrong (the gaze) but do not realize that it is the gaze that is wrong; they then assume the person is crazy, retarded or otherwise deviant because they feel uncomfortable and this is a ‘rational unconscious’ explanation.
I do have citations for these experiments which appear in many texts on social and inter-personal psychology texts. If you want specifics then let me know and I’ll dig them out of my texts.
I’ll admit I’m the tiniest bit sensitive about this theory, as I’ve NEVER looked after my shoes properly (I’ve never used polish, or leather protector, etc.), and generally I wear each pair quite literally down to nothing before I start wearing another pair. I just get really attached to whatever pair(s) I primarily wear and hate to see them go; it’s not like I can’t afford to buy a new pair and start over (although, to be perfectly honest, if I can put off having to shop, I do). I can see how you might be able to gauge a certain socio-economic niche or whatever, but it always smacks to me of those ‘How to Marry a Millionaire’ lecturer-types, forever telling you to notice the shoes and the watch.
Anyway. While I was working for local publishers’ group in my yoof, I had the opportunity to meet a quasi-famous author, and she spent the whole meeting staring at my shoes aghast (and the shoes weren’t even in their final stage, for me). Frankly, all it did was give ME the first impression that she was the sort of base individual that judges people on their shoes.
Now that I live where the streets are primarily cobblestone, let me tell you that you can’t attach too much significance to state of wear, as the streets make short work of anything but the hardiest styles, and EVERYBODY’S shoes are in a state. Except your completely anal-retentive types. Hmm. So maybe you CAN judge a person by their shoes…
Oh, and I also wear a lot of (costume) jewellery, and I’m the least materialistic person I know (although, around here in ex-pat Tory heartland, it’s not the world’s toughest competition). I presume this analysis also does not apply to all the hippie chick and piercing enthusist types I see walking about.
While I’m here: The other day I overheard someone say about me in German (Zey sink I do not understand because I do not speak it, but zey are mistaken, ya?) that I ‘Did not look like the ‘wife’ of an architect’. Offensive on many counts, not in the least because it presumes knowledge of my marital state, but, more importantly, it seems to me dangerous that other people should set up rules about how a person should look and dress without consulting the people primarily involved- In this case, is there some prerequisite as to whom my partner should fall in love with? I must have slid through the screening process.
I think the “ear experiment” thing is interesting.
When I’m listening intently to what someone is saying, I tend not to look them in the face- it’s distracting somehow. I look over their shoulder, at the wall. Basically, somehow getting too much visual input distracts me from the auditory input and I don’t catch a lot of what they’re saying if I look them in the eye.
I think I’m going to try the “ear experiment” next time I’m talking to someone I just met (assuming it’s not someone I think I’ll be seeing again) and see if they become frightened and run away.
kasuo, first of all, I’m about as far from nubian as you can get without being clear. But thats not the point. Im not trying to flame ya but until now, I’ve only heard women talk about judgeing a person by their shoes.
In any case, you didn’t answer my question. Im still curious as to what personality traits you are able to glean from a persons shoes.
Obviously shoes tell a lot about the economic status of the wearer. Style tells a little about a persons interest. Berkinstocks, Nikes, Dr. Martins and Bruno Malis each reflect diferent lifestyles. But other than very superficial, external traits, what do a persons shoes actually tell yo about the wearer?
I notice the shoes women wear (along with everything else indicative of their style). I find some styles very appealing and other (usually trendy) rather unappealing. What does this say to me about the woman? I don’t know. But there are: “old ladie’s” styles (usually flats), high fashion, those with sex appeal, those that are more rugged or athletic, and the very urban-trendy. Mind you, I’m looking at everything else in that first 10 seconds as well. Oh how horribly judgemental of me, no?
Walk into a Starbucks and check out the styles (not just shoes). Walk into a Bally’s and see what they are wearing as they leave. Go to the Mall and see the cliques and their styles. I recall several years ago seeing a group of 5 or 6 h.s. girls all wearing exactly the same brand and color of sneaker (Adidas, IIRC), right down to the lacing style.
Fascinating stuff. What does footwear say? I don’t know. I only know what looks nice to me. All I can say: 6 inch stilletto pumps SCREAM sexy. To me.
You see? You see what I mean? They’re out there everywhere, observing our footwear under hooded eyelids, piercing to very core of our innermost selves by means of some sort of bizarre, telepathic contact with our shoes…
And by the way, that’s exactly the attitude my friends also had about shoes: they couldn’t say exactly what it was about footwear that contained so much information, but it was as if they could somehow read a person by looking at their shoes.
Pretty creepy.
Pjen:
Uhhhh…I’m still not sure I’m following you. Do you mean that the people in these studies received the “right” signals and then interpreted them in the “wrong” way? If you’re saying that one can’t judge others on the basis of some set of crude, socio-cultural stereotypes, I’d have to agree with that, but I don’t think that’s exactly what Thea’s referring to. On the one hand, I’d hate to make you dig out a bunch of boring studies from one of your old text books, but on the other hand it would be pretty interesting to hear what the “experts” have to say on this subject…
But don’t feel you have to on my account. I’m requesting clarification rather than evidence.
Welcome to SDMB, Vivamus! In case anyone hasn’t said it to ya yet. Your post brings up the interesting question of whether one can make those sorts of quick judgements cross-culturally.
Or, in some cases, a total lack of any particular expression that says there isn’t a lot going on inside a person’s head.
Saying that somebody that shows no particular expression has nothing going on in his/her head is ludicrous. Do you not know of psychology? its simple, a person whom is hurt many times in the past can have this “problem” its a self defense mechanism. To say they are stupid or lacking brain function is crude and unjust. Many times when i am thinking deeply my eyes go out of focus (and with as much as i contemplate in life i must say i walk around like a zombie staring into space)
As for looking back in the past after a fact has happened and saying “I made a correct judgement”… Well my theory on this is:
Peoples memories tend to be corrupted or altered slightly to fit in with one’s mood, current mode of thought, ect. for example:
a 25 year old graduates from collage with a degree to be an R.N. That person is estatic and when questioned why they chose that occupation states that they had wanted to be a (insert job) since they were 5 yrs old. Which IMO is simply this altered memory phenomenon taking place. What they fail to remember is they had also wanted to be a policeman, a fireman, a football player, a lawyer, ect, from the time they were 5 untill (insert age). It is easy to go back in the past in nit-pick certain memories to give your present situation some “proof”
It would be just as easy to get several feelings off of a person when you first meet them, then at a later date, pick one of those feelings and say “I knew he/she was going to be that type of person, i felt it from the begining”
These claims, i do not believe, are scientific. They are riddled with flaws that many do not see. If you want to be scientific about it, Go to a party and bring a notepad. When you meet each person for the first time, write down the first ten impressions you get from each person. Meet 10-20 people, then get to know each one of them better. At that time make notes as to what type of person you know them as now. Compare notes, do a graph chart to see how each set of first impressions compare to what you know of them now. See how far off they are?
In case anyone hasn’t said it to ya yet. Your post brings up the interesting question of whether one can make those sorts of quick judgements cross-culturally.