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The teddy bear effect: does babyfaceness benefit Black CEOs?
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 14:57 authored by Robert W Livingston, Nicholas A PearcePrior research suggests that having a baby face is negatively correlated with success among White males in high positions of leadership. However, we explored the positive role of such “babyfaceness” in the success of high-ranking Black executives. Two studies revealed that Black chief executive officers (CEOs) were significantly more baby-faced than White CEOs. Black CEOs were also judged as being warmer than White CEOs, even though ordinary Blacks were rated categorically as being less warm than ordinary Whites. In addition, baby-faced Black CEOs tended to lead more prestigious corporations and earned higher salaries than mature-faced Black CEOs; these patterns did not emerge for White CEOs. Taken together, these findings suggest that babyfaceness is a disarming mechanism that facilitates the success of Black leaders by attenuating stereotypical perceptions that Blacks are threatening. Theoretical and practical implications for research on race, gender, and leadership are discussed.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Psychological ScienceISSN
0956-7976Publisher
SAGE PublicationsExternal DOI
Issue
10Volume
20Page range
1229-1236Department affiliated with
- Business and Management Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes