This news just in - psychologists at the University of Toronto and Tufts University have completed a study showing that a law firm's profit margin is higher when it's led by managing partners with powerful looking faces. Professor Nicholas Rule of psychology at U of T, lead author of the study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, says, “Appearance matters a great deal when it comes to judging people. This includes clothing, posture, and hairstyles, but the real window to judging people is the face." (emphasis my own)
I wonder how much that comes into play when people go to Kiva.org to make loans to help entrepreneurs in downtrodden circumstances, usually in developing countries. These people are seeking micro finance loans to start a business or grow one already up and running. You can see pictured here the latest recipient of one of my loans. I chose her because; first, she is a woman and I always lend to the oppressed of the oppressed, and second, because while I did pay attention to the bio and the assessed risk level for repayment, quite honestly, I liked her face.
Each person or group seeking a Kiva loan is pictured on the site beside a short bio and details of their business. While I was at the site today looking at the entrepreneurial individuals and groups seeking financial aid, I saw a picture of a man whose face was blocked out. I have to wonder how much such an action will impact his perceived desirability as a loan-seeker, especially when those with the money to lend will be lacking the usual visual clues as to whether or not he's someone with whom they can entrust their funds.
Various explanation are, of course, possible for his face being blocked out, but I think Professor Rule would be anything but approving of it.
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