Cell phones, clothing, and sex: first impressions of power using older African Americans as stimuli.
Ross A, Barker K · 2003
View Original AbstractCell phones significantly influence first impressions of power and status, revealing the deep social drivers behind widespread adoption.
Plain English Summary
This 2003 study examined how cell phone presence affects first impressions of power and status. Researchers showed 160 college women photos of older African Americans either with or without cell phones and different clothing, then measured how powerful the subjects appeared. The study found that cell phones, along with clothing and gender, significantly influenced perceptions of power and authority.
Why This Matters
While this study doesn't examine biological health effects, it reveals an important social dimension of our relationship with cell phones that emerged in the early 2000s. The research demonstrates how quickly cell phones became symbols of status and power in American society, influencing snap judgments about individuals. This social psychology research helps explain why cell phone adoption was so rapid and widespread, even as health concerns were beginning to surface in the scientific literature. Understanding these powerful social drivers of cell phone use is crucial for anyone trying to make informed decisions about EMF exposure, because it shows the psychological barriers we face when considering reducing our device usage.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
Sex, material possessions, and race have long been associated with prestige or status in American society, yet little research has examined this idea.
Little is known about the effect of cell phones on first impressions. In a 2 (cell phone: present, a...
Multivariate analysis of variance showed a 3-way interaction for clothing, cell phone, and sex of st...
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2003_cell_phones_clothing_and_2543,
author = {Ross A and Barker K},
title = {Cell phones, clothing, and sex: first impressions of power using older African Americans as stimuli. },
year = {2003},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14723458/},
}