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Cell phones, clothing, and sex: first impressions of power using older African Americans as stimuli.

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Ross A, Barker K · 2003

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Cell phones significantly influence first impressions of power and status, revealing the deep social drivers behind widespread adoption.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

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...

Cite This Study
Ross A, Barker K (2003). Cell phones, clothing, and sex: first impressions of power using older African Americans as stimuli. Psychol Rep. 93(3 Pt 1): 879-882, 2003.
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/},
}
PubMed: 14723458

Cited By (1 paper)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, cell phones can significantly influence how powerful and authoritative you appear to others. A 2003 study found that people holding cell phones were perceived as having more power and status than those without phones, particularly when combined with professional clothing.
Cell phones do change first impressions by affecting perceptions of power and authority. Research with 160 college students showed that the presence of a cell phone, along with clothing and gender, significantly influenced how powerful someone appeared in photographs.
Cell phone presence does affect how others perceive your social status and power. A study examining first impressions found significant interactions between cell phone presence, clothing, and gender in determining how authoritative people appeared to observers.
Cell phones are linked to increased perceptions of authority and power. Research using photographs of older African Americans showed that cell phone presence, combined with clothing choices, significantly influenced how much power observers attributed to the subjects.
Cell phones impact power impressions by creating a three-way interaction with clothing and gender that influences perceived authority. The 2003 study demonstrated that cell phones serve as status symbols that affect how powerful someone appears to others.