what do see when you look at a person that you don't know?
2006-10-19 08:23:19 · 19 answers · asked by ASHLEY B 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
sometimes i do judge people by their appearance...i try not to because its not right...but most of the time I'm right about ppl based on my judgement of them.
2006-10-19 08:25:12 · answer #1 · answered by angelou0839 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This question opens the door to a lot of discussion. We are evoluionarily hardwired to take in information about others that assesses a) if they are a threat to us and b) if they would be suitable sexual partners. Note that a) doesn't just include them being aggressive looking, a person who appears unhealthy also represents a possible threat and part of your recoil from them is self-preservation.
When you see preferences for symettry, and a ceriian hip to waist ratio, or BMI (around 21 for women), what you are seeing is people visually taking in data that suggests the viewed person has healthy genes and would make a good partner.
Fortunately or unfortunately, part of what we define as "healthy" or "a suitable sexual partner" is picked up from the culture, and is not actually very good advice from your brain. For example, our culture sends us general images which eroticize very thin women, but from an evolutionary perspective they make poor sexual partners.
When surveys have been done about what people notice first about appearance, hair usually figures prominently, as this is one of the most differentiated physcial characteristics.
The good news is that in surveys, when choosing a partner (as opposed to someone to look at) both men and women rate personality and related traits like intelligence, empathy in listening, and sense of humour above physical characteristics.
2006-10-19 15:42:21 · answer #2 · answered by snowgoose8 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think we all judge people by appearance from time to time. It's only natural. However, I make an effort to look past that first visual impression. We are all so much more than our appearance! I've known people who were not much to look at physically, but had beautiful personalities. And I've met people who looked gorgeous but were so ugly and rotten inside, I wanted nothing to do with them.
When I first look at a person, I try to look in their eyes. Eyes are truly the windows to the soul and if you know what a beautiful, kind soul looks like, you can spot it instantly. I stay away from people who have blank or hard-looking eyes. (It's not about color or anything like that. It's an expression that is only in the eyes.) I tend to gravitate towards people that have a sparkle or warmth in their eyes.
2006-10-19 15:32:44 · answer #3 · answered by Avie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course I do. But I'm open to having my opinion changed.
Ugly people I don't really judge. You can't help your face! But I will certainly judge someone on their upkeep, how they dress, etc. While that's not the be all and end all of a person, it does say a lot about them.
You just have to remember that someone might be having a bad day.
2006-10-19 15:27:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No if your are referring to their face which they can't help but make up and clothing, I certainly look at them and think wow are blind or what . Then again it is all a matter of choice how you look such as where you are going and what kind of impression do you want to make. I don't really judge and I hope they are not judging me.
2006-10-19 15:36:45 · answer #5 · answered by Bella Donna 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have spent my life trying not to - I hope that most of the time I don't. I try to see another person just like me when I look at a new person
2006-10-19 15:31:35 · answer #6 · answered by oldhippypaul 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course I do. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar. Sure it's not right to base your opinion on someone just by the way they look. Hell it's not right to judge people at all. Though we still do it.
2006-10-19 15:31:56 · answer #7 · answered by yblur 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
99.9999999999999% of people do. Many of those who say "no", don't even realize they do it subconsciously.
I consider the possibility of what they may be like based on their look, but I never assume they actually ARE that way like most people do. I wait and see how they act, and see the person for who they are, and cut away all the bias.
2006-10-19 15:26:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well you have to judge people by something when you don't know them and looks is about the only thing you have. sorry, but folks looks DO tell something about themselves--i mean, are they a slob? are they neat and tidy? do they care about fashion or do they not? these things do offer some tiny (albeit possibly wrong) insights into people's personalities.
2006-10-19 15:32:03 · answer #9 · answered by KJC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its human nature to make certain generalizations about people we have just met. It's also important that we realize that you can't judge a book but its cover alone.
2006-10-19 15:27:46 · answer #10 · answered by OE 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All first impressions are according to looks. These impressions can change as one gets to know the person.
2006-10-19 15:25:55 · answer #11 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋