Have you noticed that people in a company look more attractive than they do alone? If you observe collectives and their members, this can be easily seen, and there is a name for it in science - the cheerleader effect, which can be easily used to achieve certain goals!
The cheerleader effect (there is a form of "cheerleaders") is a phenomenon that is known to many not from scientific articles, but from the words of one of the characters in the series "How I Met Your Mother" named Barney Stinson, who claimed that people in the company look much more attractive than alone.
Why cheerleaders?
Cheerleaders are cheerleaders who feature extravagant outfits and colorful pom-poms in their hands. Girls usually present a spectacular performance with elements of dance and acrobatics. Cheerleaders' clothing is usually in the same color scheme and favorably emphasizes the overall appeal of the cheerleading team. But does it work with every single girl?
Scientists' opinion
For a long time, no one took such an observation seriously, until scientists found out that the cheerleading effect really exists. In the American (California) and Australian (Adelaide) universities, studies were conducted in which participants were asked to evaluate the appearance of a person in a group and individual photo.
The participants in such an experiment confirmed that a person looks more attractive in a company. The repeated repetition of such experimental results strengthened the scientists in their point of view. Drew Walker of the University of California tested Barney Stinson's hypothesis five times and concluded that the cheerleading effect is achieved in several cognitive "steps":
- When viewing a collective photo, the human eye automatically combines all the faces in the picture into one, because in this case, the focus of perception is scattered.
- Small details of faces and clothes are blurred and lost in the general appearance of the company depicted in the photograph, which creates an effect of the integrity of the image, which corresponds to the average.
- The average image created by the brain is perceived as reliable and the most harmonious.
How to use the cheerleader effect?
You can present your appearance in a favorable light with the help of the cheerleading effect both in life and in a photograph. All you have to do is ask your friends to keep you company. Pay attention, for example, to musical groups, which often appear in full force both in life and in pictures. Cognitive bias also works for weddings and other holiday photoshoots, amplified by makeup and clothing, which is usually attractive in terms of overall style or color scheme at such events.
It is worth remembering that the one using the cheerleader effect should not stand out from the “crowd” himself, his clothes should correspond to the style or color of the team's clothes. Thus, if you follow these simple rules, you can favorably emphasize the attractive features of your appearance and achieve the desired effect.
