# Slack-Jawed Locals **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 2, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002 "2008-02-02T18:31:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Brother\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_brother_1/32/3513_2.png) [@Little\_Brother\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Brother_1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/1 "2008-02-02T18:31:35Z")
There are at least two people I often see on the bus during my daily commute who have that classic “slack-jawed yokel” look, i.e. dull expression and mouth hanging open. These are but two examples of countless people I’ve seen who literally _look_ stupid, judging by facial “set” and expression alone. I’ve begun ruminating on this perception: is it mere unkind and pejorative bias? In other words, is there any proven scientific correlation between facial physiognomy and intellect or general perspicacity? Or is the decidedly stupid expression in the eye of the beholder? If so, it’s obviously not an idiosyncracy of mine; I didn’t invent the phrase “slack-jawed yokel”. If there is an objective correlation between “mouth-breathers” and intellect, what is it? If not, why has this meme remained embedded in our culture? I picture the immanent Cecil’s jawline as firm and tense, even throbbing, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Mongo\_Ponton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mongo\_Ponton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mongo_Ponton)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/2 "2008-02-03T04:07:03Z")
I always thought it had something to do with their breathing. I don’t know if they are too dumb to breathe through their nose or its a cultural thing or what. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/3 "2008-02-03T04:31:28Z")
[QUOTE=Little Brøther] If there is an objective correlation between “mouth-breathers” and intellect, what is it? [/QUOTE] I sometimes breathe through my mouth because of nasal congestion. Do you conclude from that that I’m your intellectual inferior? Have you spoken to the people on the bus, to ascertain whether they are, in fact, stupid? ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/4 "2008-02-03T05:10:59Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] \Do you conclude from that that I’m your intellectual inferior?\ [/QUOTE] The OP may or may not, but _society_ does: > [@](#): > > Mouth breathing in public is sometimes considered to be less socially acceptable or attractive than nose breathing, as mouth breathers can appear to have a somewhat “slack jawed” look, and mouth breathing can cause or exacerbate bad breath. Consequently, the term “mouth breather” may be used in a pejorative sense for someone lacking in hygiene or intelligence. Disclaimer: I’ve been breathing through my mouth for the last two weeks. Stupid sinus infection! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/5 "2008-02-03T05:27:13Z")
Isn’t mouth breathing a common side effect of Down Syndrome? Perhaps that’s the source of the stereotype. ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/6 "2008-02-03T05:32:47Z")
Huh, I always thought it meant the yokel was aghast at the big city and newfangled technology and whatnot. He’s from the backwoods, so he’s never seen it, so his mouth is agape in awe. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/7 "2008-02-03T05:37:23Z")
[QUOTE=Dewey Finn] Isn’t mouth breathing a common side effect of Down Syndrome? Perhaps that’s the source of the stereotype. [/QUOTE] Same thought here. That “open mouthed” look is often associated with congenital breathing/airway abnormalities associated with some types of mental retardation. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/8 "2008-02-03T12:36:16Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] l Have you spoken to the people on the bus, to ascertain whether they are, in fact, stupid? [/QUOTE] Or have you asked if any of them are named Cletus ---
**Author:** ![oldboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aca169/32.png) [@oldboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldboy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/9 "2008-02-03T12:59:09Z")
what an odd thread,reminds me of that awfull gumtree place ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/10 "2008-02-03T21:49:50Z")
It could be that we form a prejudice against mouth breathers as unintelligent from childhood and devote less academic resources to them so they largely end up fulfilling the prophecy. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/11 "2008-02-03T23:15:37Z")
Probably just lack of sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/12 "2008-02-03T23:19:20Z")
It’s worth mentioning [Fetal Alcohol Syndrome](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_alcohol_syndrome) as something that can produce that “looks stupid” appearance. When I was taking a course on drug & alcohol addiction at the local college, the teacher mentioned that if you look at old paintings that include the “village idiot” in the crowd of people, you’ll notice that the VI frequently shows the [facial characteristics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_alcohol_syndrome#Facial_features) of an FAS victim. Then consider that the term “slack-jawed yokel” is frequently associated with hillbillies, who are frequently associated with copious moonshine consumption. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slack-jawed-locals/436002/13 "2008-02-04T00:19:14Z")
Ah, this is delicate ground, but I do have a few observations. I lived for a few years in an Appalachian region and I noticed far more “slack-jawed” yokels than I have in my urban homes. Many people looked like the branch of my family that has lived in isolation in rural Utah for eons and tend to not be so picky about marrying “second” cousins. Perhaps in really isolated regions fewer marriage choices/those who can leave, do/poverty/discrimination tends to strand certain groups of people. OTOH, I readily admit that I bring my own biases and if I hadn’t worked on letting go of some of them, I wouldn’t have the fabulous, loyal, smart friends that I do in Appalachia.