3 ms·
My immediate reaction was that the problem with the commercial was the artist's bias. He knew what the commercial was supposed to be. He knew whether he was dr
by staunch 13y ago
My immediate reaction was that the problem with the commercial was the artist's bias.
He knew what the commercial was supposed to be. He knew whether he was drawing from a self-description or a description by a third-party.
So, naturally, he drew more attractive pictures when a third-party was describing the person.
- breakupapp 13y agoIt's hard to believe these completely.
- Fishkins 13y agoThat was my reaction, too. The idea seemed ridiculous from a scientific perspective (although it may be very good advertising).
- HeliasVlastimir 13y agoIt's a commercial not an experiment... you don't need to look for experimental errors in commercials. They're all lies. In fact, it would be criminal for them not to lie, since company-enhancing lies are good for the bottom line, and corporations who don't work to maximize the profit of their shareholders are breaking the law.
- nostrademons 13y agoThere's also a social bias in the commercial. People are socialized not to say negative things about other people, particularly not other people's looks, and particularly not women's looks. The artist was drawing off a verbal description; if people consciously filter out their negative thoughts before expressing them ("If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all"), then that verbal description will be biased. The subject herself, however, is probably socialized not to brag, and so her verbal description filters out the most positive aspects. On a side note, I'm curious what the results would be if you took someone on the autism spectrum and had them describe a woman they just met. Many such people have no such tact filters; would you get a more accurate drawing from them?
- zachlatta 13y agoMy girlfriend was telling me about Vietnamese culture the other day (her family is Vietnamese). She put particular emphasis on the the vastly different social norms between Vietnam and the Western world. From what she told me, woman are much more forthcoming about their true opinions of another woman's looks in Vietnam and the Eastern world. Similar to how getting a description from someone on the autism spectrum would product vastly different results, I'm curious as to how the results of the experience would differ in different countries and different parts of the world.
- nostrademons 13y agoInteresting...I have a Vietnamese friend that's always complaining about how her mother and her fiancee's mother are always talking about how she's not pretty enough or not pretty enough for her fiancee. Explains a lot.