HEALTH
What do your shoes say about you? A lot, study finds
How much do your shoes say about you and your personality? Researchers at the University of Kansas say a lot.
But it might not be that simple.
“You look at a shoe and you think you know a person but people understand that the shoes are a communication device,” said Dr. Chris Crandall, a psychology professor at the University of Kansas. “People choose shoes to send a message, but what we found is that those messages are often not correct.”
Dr. Crandall, who led the study, says from looking at pictures of shoes, college students were able to accurately predict the owners’ age, gender and approximate income, as well as some information about their character and emotional state.
“A fancy shoe or a shoe in good shape was thought to be somebody who had their act together, who was high in emotional stability … that's not what we found,” Crandall added.
For example, the study found that people who wear high-tops tend to be standoffish and introverted. It also revealed that people who wore stylish new shows were likely to earn more money.
Some say the higher the heels, the closer to heaven.
But Dr. Crandall says “as the heels go up, emotional stability goes down.”
However, some women tell us they feel high heels make them feel more stable in certain situations.
“I’m going to see my daughter in Denver next week and she's taking me to a political function and I need political function lawyer shoes," Marian Van Lieshoud said. "I want to look like I’m important."
According to the study, people who wear bright, colorful, brand name sneakers tend to be more emotionally stable. It also finds that people who wear worn-in shoes tend to be more extroverted and emotionally stable.
But if you assume people who wear Birkenstocks are very liberal, think again. The study says they’re not.
Would you like to contribute to this story? Join the discussion.
RecommendedRecent Facebook Activity
Only On 7
-
Leon Harris and Alison Starling weeknights on ABC7
For all the breaking stories happening in your neighborhood and developing stories happening around the world, join Leon Harris and Alison Starling weeknights on ABC7 News at 5 and 11.
TBD Blogs What you need to read
-
@TBD Arts
Tonight: JD McPherson's 'Signs and Signifiers'
-
@TBD On Foot
A close reading of a D.C. commute
Best of TBD In case you missed it
-
Food truck frenzy
Billed as the biggest food truck assembly to ever happen in D.C., "Curbside Cookoff: Trucko De Mayo" took place on Saturday with at least 40 vendors.
Photo Galleries Pictures from around the region
-
PHOTOS: Capital Pride parade, festival
-
Maine Avenue Fish Market: Fresh fish for sale under a D.C. bridge
-
National Puppy Day photos: Celebrating the sweetness of dogs









27 Comments
MORE COMMENTSPost a Comment