close this window
Kids Equate Glasses with Intelligence
Children who wear glasses are generally thought of as smarter and more honest by their peers, according to a new study that brings some of our societal stereotypes into crisp focus.
Jeffrey Walline, an assistant professor of optometry at Ohio State University, asked 80 6- to 10-year-olds — 30 of whom wore glasses — to look at 24 pairs of photos. Each set featured two children, one of whom wore glasses while the other did not.
For each pair of photos, the participating children were asked a series of questions, including: Which of these kids would you rather play with? Who looks smarter? Who seems more shy? More honest?
On average, two-thirds responded that the spectacled child looked smarter than the one not wearing chasses. Furthermore, 57 percent thought the kids with glasses appeared to be more honest.
The glasses, or lack thereof, did not make a statistically significant difference in any of the other questions, such as who to play with. So the idea that glasses make one seem less attractive does not seem to be true, at least in the pre-pubescent years. But the cliché that people who wear glasses are brighter than average apparently takes hold very early in life.
As someone with nearly off-the-charts nearsightedness, I can only applaud this intuition-based insight.
The full study is in the May issue of the journal Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics.
word on the street
more in this section
House Bill Puts Transportation in Partisan Crossfire
A Perennial Epicenter, Now for Same-Sex Marriage
Prop 8 May Be Same-Sex Couples’ Least Worry
EarthScope: A Seismic Shift in Data Gathering
Pressure to Conform Can Inspire Creativity
Learning to Read When a School System Falters
Better Super Bowl Makes for Better Ads
Five Orcas, Five Slaves or Five Persons?
Overseas Troops Finally Get Fair Shot at Voting
Quake Rescues Reserve, Shakes Baja Fishing Town
also by this author
Tom JacobsStaff writer Tom Jacobs is a veteran journalist with more than 20 years experience at daily newspapers. He has served as a staff writer for The Lo...
Children’s Books Increasingly Ignore Natural WorldA survey of award-winning children’s picture books from 1938 to 2008 suggests our increasing estrangement from the natural environment.
Women Eye Dance Moves to Find Thrill SeekersHow to spot thrill-seeking men on the dance floor, “sweet” personalities in public, and bidding fever on eBay.
Morning People May Be More Creative in the AfternoonNew research finds problems that require a flash of illumination to solve are best approached during the time of day when you’re not at your peak.
Does Black History Need More Than a Month?The documentary “More Than a Month” asks: Does Black History Month still inspire reflection, or just Nike sales?
We’re Sorry: Not All Apologies Are ApologiesPoliticians take note: Research shows the fine line between claiming regret and taking responsibility.
Receive 1 year (6 issues) of our print magazine for just $14.95. Miller-McCune features polished, in-depth reports on research and solutions across the policy spectrum — from health care, education and energy to international affairs, poverty and the global economy. It's a must read for well-informed and solutions-driven individuals.
follow us on:
join our newsletter:
from the source
World health leaders announce coordinated push to eradicate or control neglected tropical diseases.
Rather than moaning about too many cars on the road, the Ridesharing Institute says the real key to battling traffic congestion and pollution is filling empty passenger seats.
Various ways of assigning numbers to events, people, and actions is an ancient parlor game, but let’s not take it beyond that.
Researchers looking at how we fixate on threats uncover more evidence of a biological component to the red-blue divide.
Texas Republicans won Friday as the Supreme Court rejected a judicially drawn redistricting map, but not for the reasons you might think.
