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My parents and I use to sit and watch people and my dad use to tell me he could tell IN MOST CASES if a person was smart and or self confident just by watching them. (And not talking to them>)
Of course I expect to hear from my fellow City Data posters that there are many types of smart and many types of confidence but ......
I think my father, RIP, would never admit he was incorrect. And I have to agree. There is a "look" of a smart person and a "look" for a person who has lots of self confidence.
Anyone (fellow people watchers) believe my father and believe there is "a look" of confidence and intelligence.
Location: On the "Left Coast", somewhere in "the Land of Fruits & Nuts"
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Dunno about any particular "look", but in general I'm usually impressed by the folks who don't seem to have anything to "prove". And actually I think you have to look closely to recognize the really talented ones, who always seem to make it look so "easy"!
If a Hollywood Casting Director was looking for someone who was super smart and they were trying to fulfill a stereotype, what look would they go after?
I've worked with various people all my life including some very smart Mensa super geniuses as well as some very dumb redneck types. And have worked at one of the countries top universities which had hundreds of people who were the best of the best walking around...
All I can say is that I can't tell just by looking. Once they open their mouth, then I can quickly tell. But so far as looks, clothes, race, sex [M/F], or anything else visual, they come in all different shapes and sizes!
I don't know how you'd ever know if your opinions were accurate.
If you sit the and pick out the smart people and the dumb people, are you then going up to them to ask about their IQ and their education?
I know lots of rich people, and, unless they are on their way to some fancy dress charity event, they look just like anyone else.
I know some really smart people, too, and they also look just like anyone else. Unless someone has Downes Syndrome, you can't tell IQ from looks-- and I have my doubts about the Downs Syndrome people; they seem bright enough to me.
I think that you can pick out people who are extremely far down the hole of drug dependence and maybe, sometimes, alcohol dependence. Other than that, you don't get very far by evaluating a people by their looks.
I think behavior manifests itself in a person's appearance and that's what provides visual insight. I think confidence is definitely something that can be seen, but that smart might be a little trickier to accurately judge.
Interesting replies but I still think there is a look of confidence and intelligence.
If you were a director of a movie or TV series and asked your actor to appear confidence in their body language and facial expression and how they moved, what would they do?
...If you were a director of a movie or TV series and asked your actor to appear confidence in their body language and facial expression and how they moved, what would they do?
Movies and TV are fantasy, not reality. They can create their own stereotypes which do not exist in the real world. Maybe a character like James Bond 007...
That character comes as a "whole package". 1 out of 100,000 people exceptional good looks, unlimited money, nice clothes, very expensive cars and toys, etc.
FYI - I just watched a spy documentary [reality] and they said a real spy who was most successful would be nothing like James Bond, rather just the opposite! You would want someone who looked and acted normal and would blend into the woodwork.
Usually the eye area indicates intelligence somehow, and offhand I can't think of any bulldog-faced geniuses. Anyone who thinks that's nonsense now gets the reminder that most people with Down's Syndrome look alike.
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