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Personality correlates of physical height
Person. indiuid. D@ Vol. Printed in Great Britain
13, No. 12, pp. 1349-1350,1992
0191-8869/92
$5.00 + 0.00
Pergamon Press Ltd
Personality correlates of physical height TUVIA MELAMED Psychology
Department,
Liverpool
University,
P.O. Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, E&and
(Received 25 January
1992)
Summary-Physical height was correlated with the 16 PF. Height was significantly related to suspiciousness for both sexes, and to dominance and independency for males.
INTRODUCTION Physical characteristics affect peoples’ perception, judgements and expectations regarding issues unrelated to the physical features. Common stereotypes are attached to a variety of physical traits. Examples are “the dumb blonde” or the association of wearing glasses with intelligence. Research demonstrated several of these perceptions and judgements. Hensley and Cooper (1987) reviewed the relationship between height and occupational success. They concluded that height is an important attribute in securing a position although its effect on job performance is minor. The effect of physical attributes is not limited to peoples’ evaluation of the individual; it also modifies the individual’s self-perception. Positive physical features, such as tallness or physical attractiveness, are expected to increase the individual’s confidence and esteem. This results in a personality profile characterized as assertive, dominant, independent, uninhibited, and self-assured. This study focuses on height and examines its personality correlates. It is expected that height will correlate with several personality traits associated with confidence, independency and dominance. The correlations are expected to be more apparent among males than females, as height is a physical feature that relates more closely to masculinity than femininity.
METHODS The study was administered in the Employment Service Agency (ESA) of the British Civil Service. The data were collected through a mailed questionnaire. The sample consisted of 132 ESA employees (response rate of 40%). of which 71 were females and 61 were males. The females’ age range from 25 to 59 years (M = 38.7, SD = 7.7), whereas males’ age ranged from 27 to 59 years (A4 = 41.5, SD = 7.2). Height scores were transformed from feet and inches to centimetres. Height varied from 147 (4’10”) to 180 (5’11”) cm for females, and from 163 (5’4”) to 193 (6’4”) cm for males. The personality features were derived from the 16 Personality Factors (16 PF) Form A (Cattell, 1970). For each manager, 16 primary and 4 secondary personality factors were computed. The scores were expressed in Sten (standard) scores using norms developed for the British general population (Saville, 1972).
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
Pearson correlations were calculated between height and the 20 personality factors independently for males and females. Height correlated significantly among the male and the female samples with factor E (dominance; r = 0.34 and 0.25, P ,< 0.008 and 0.05, respectively) and factor L (suspiciousness; r = 0.29 and 0.27, P < 0.03 and 0.04). For males, height also correlated with factor Q,, (independence; r = 0.27, P < 0.04). Stepwise regression suggested a multiple correlation of R = 0.41 [R* = 0.17, F(2,58) = 5.83, P < O.OOS]between males’ height and 2 personality factors (B = 0.30, P $0.02) and L (b = 0.23, P Q 0.05). For females, the stepwise regression suggested only one predictor of height, namely L. The pattern of correlations was very similar for males and females. In both cases, the taller the person, the more likely he or she is to be dominant and assertive (factor E), or suspicious and hard to fool (factor L). For males height is also associated with being independent (factor Q,,). As expected height correlates with personality features and these correlations are more apparent among males than females. The correlation found with assertiveness and independence followed expectation. Yet, it is hard to explain the correlation with suspicion and the lack of significant correlation with self-assurance (factor 0). The mechanisms of self-perception and feedback help to explain the correlations between height and personality traits. In comparison to tall people, short people are likely to receive less positive feedback and to feel inadequate due to their height. This probably affects their confidence, and results in personality and individual differences. The two mechanisms do not provide an exclusive explanation of the variance shared by height and personality. Physical characteristics of which people are unaware (e.g. pelvic shape and the ratio of forefinger length to the third finger) are also related to personality (Wilson, 1983). As self-perception and feedback are not relevant for unawareness, a third variable is likely to contribute to the explanation of the variance shared by height and personality. A possible variable is prenatal hormones. Male hormones make people taller and determine masculine personality traits (Wilson, 1984). 1349
1350
NOTES
AND
SHORTER
COMMUNICATIONS
REFERENCES
for
Cattell, R. B. (1970). Handbook the 16 PF. Champaign, IL.: Institute for Personality and Ability Testing. Hensley, W. E. & Cooper, R. (1987). Height and occupational success: A review and critique. Psychological Reports, 60, 843-849.
Saville, P. (1972). The British standardisation of the 16 PF: Supplement of norms- Forms A and E. Windsor, U.K.: NFER. Wilson, G. D. (1983). Finger-length as an index of assertiveness in women. Personality and IndiuidualDifferences, 4,111-l 12. Wilson, G. D. (1984). The personality of opera singers. Personality and Individual Dtyerences, 5, 195-201.
13, No. 12, pp. 1349-1350,1992
0191-8869/92
$5.00 + 0.00
Pergamon Press Ltd
Personality correlates of physical height TUVIA MELAMED Psychology
Department,
Liverpool
University,
P.O. Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, E&and
(Received 25 January
1992)
Summary-Physical height was correlated with the 16 PF. Height was significantly related to suspiciousness for both sexes, and to dominance and independency for males.
INTRODUCTION Physical characteristics affect peoples’ perception, judgements and expectations regarding issues unrelated to the physical features. Common stereotypes are attached to a variety of physical traits. Examples are “the dumb blonde” or the association of wearing glasses with intelligence. Research demonstrated several of these perceptions and judgements. Hensley and Cooper (1987) reviewed the relationship between height and occupational success. They concluded that height is an important attribute in securing a position although its effect on job performance is minor. The effect of physical attributes is not limited to peoples’ evaluation of the individual; it also modifies the individual’s self-perception. Positive physical features, such as tallness or physical attractiveness, are expected to increase the individual’s confidence and esteem. This results in a personality profile characterized as assertive, dominant, independent, uninhibited, and self-assured. This study focuses on height and examines its personality correlates. It is expected that height will correlate with several personality traits associated with confidence, independency and dominance. The correlations are expected to be more apparent among males than females, as height is a physical feature that relates more closely to masculinity than femininity.
METHODS The study was administered in the Employment Service Agency (ESA) of the British Civil Service. The data were collected through a mailed questionnaire. The sample consisted of 132 ESA employees (response rate of 40%). of which 71 were females and 61 were males. The females’ age range from 25 to 59 years (M = 38.7, SD = 7.7), whereas males’ age ranged from 27 to 59 years (A4 = 41.5, SD = 7.2). Height scores were transformed from feet and inches to centimetres. Height varied from 147 (4’10”) to 180 (5’11”) cm for females, and from 163 (5’4”) to 193 (6’4”) cm for males. The personality features were derived from the 16 Personality Factors (16 PF) Form A (Cattell, 1970). For each manager, 16 primary and 4 secondary personality factors were computed. The scores were expressed in Sten (standard) scores using norms developed for the British general population (Saville, 1972).
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
Pearson correlations were calculated between height and the 20 personality factors independently for males and females. Height correlated significantly among the male and the female samples with factor E (dominance; r = 0.34 and 0.25, P ,< 0.008 and 0.05, respectively) and factor L (suspiciousness; r = 0.29 and 0.27, P < 0.03 and 0.04). For males, height also correlated with factor Q,, (independence; r = 0.27, P < 0.04). Stepwise regression suggested a multiple correlation of R = 0.41 [R* = 0.17, F(2,58) = 5.83, P < O.OOS]between males’ height and 2 personality factors (B = 0.30, P $0.02) and L (b = 0.23, P Q 0.05). For females, the stepwise regression suggested only one predictor of height, namely L. The pattern of correlations was very similar for males and females. In both cases, the taller the person, the more likely he or she is to be dominant and assertive (factor E), or suspicious and hard to fool (factor L). For males height is also associated with being independent (factor Q,,). As expected height correlates with personality features and these correlations are more apparent among males than females. The correlation found with assertiveness and independence followed expectation. Yet, it is hard to explain the correlation with suspicion and the lack of significant correlation with self-assurance (factor 0). The mechanisms of self-perception and feedback help to explain the correlations between height and personality traits. In comparison to tall people, short people are likely to receive less positive feedback and to feel inadequate due to their height. This probably affects their confidence, and results in personality and individual differences. The two mechanisms do not provide an exclusive explanation of the variance shared by height and personality. Physical characteristics of which people are unaware (e.g. pelvic shape and the ratio of forefinger length to the third finger) are also related to personality (Wilson, 1983). As self-perception and feedback are not relevant for unawareness, a third variable is likely to contribute to the explanation of the variance shared by height and personality. A possible variable is prenatal hormones. Male hormones make people taller and determine masculine personality traits (Wilson, 1984). 1349
1350
NOTES
AND
SHORTER
COMMUNICATIONS
REFERENCES
for
Cattell, R. B. (1970). Handbook the 16 PF. Champaign, IL.: Institute for Personality and Ability Testing. Hensley, W. E. & Cooper, R. (1987). Height and occupational success: A review and critique. Psychological Reports, 60, 843-849.
Saville, P. (1972). The British standardisation of the 16 PF: Supplement of norms- Forms A and E. Windsor, U.K.: NFER. Wilson, G. D. (1983). Finger-length as an index of assertiveness in women. Personality and IndiuidualDifferences, 4,111-l 12. Wilson, G. D. (1984). The personality of opera singers. Personality and Individual Dtyerences, 5, 195-201.