The Difference in the Faces of the Wealthy According to Studies, Can It Really Be Seen from the Face?

Kapanlagi.com - Klovers, recently there have been many new slang terms popularized by Gen Z on social media. One of them is 'orang have', a term used to describe people who are considered affluent or wealthy. Meanwhile, the term 'orang enough' is often used informally to describe people living on a tight budget.

The use of these terms has led to the perception that a person's economic condition can somehow be seen from their face. Some people are considered to have the face of the wealthy because they appear more well-groomed, healthy, attractive, or give a certain impression at first glance.

Interestingly, this perception is indeed related to psychological research. Several researchers have tested how people assess someone's social status solely based on facial appearance. However, the research findings do not mean that rich people have a specific face shape. What was found was actually related to human perceptions and stereotypes about appearance.

1. Study Investigating Whether Social Class Can Be Seen from the Face

Social Class is Reflected in the Face. (depositphotos/odua)

The research titled The Visibility of Social Class From Facial Cues conducted by R. Thora Bjornsdottir and Nicholas O. Rule from the University of Toronto tested whether people can estimate someone's social class based on facial photographs. The study, published in 2017, used income as one measure of social class.

The results showed that participants could categorize faces of wealthy and poor individuals with a level of accuracy better than mere random guessing. These findings are intriguing as they indicate that humans can indeed capture a number of visual cues that are then used to make judgments about social status.

However, the study did not find a specific facial shape that characterizes wealthy individuals. Thus, the term 'the face of the affluent' is more accurately understood as the impression that arises when someone looks at a face, rather than a definitive sign of the amount of wealth possessed.

2. Healthy-Looking Faces Tend to Be Judged as More Affluent

Recent research conducted by R. Thora Bjornsdottir and Elizabeth Beacon and published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology in 2024 examined how faces influence judgments of social class.

The findings indicate that faces that appear more positive, attractive, and healthy are often judged as belonging to a higher social class. The researchers also found that facial expressions can alter judgments regarding social class.

This means that the impression of being more affluent that arises when looking at someone is not only related to the shape of the face but also to the visual condition and expressions displayed.

3. Traits That Often Make Faces Considered Affluent

Rich people's face. (mydramalist.com)

When linked to terms that are popular on social media, the impression of being affluent can arise from a combination of several visually apparent factors. These are not biological traits of wealthy individuals, but rather factors that can influence someone's first impression.

Some impressions that in the study were associated with higher social class judgments include:

• Healthy-looking face.
• Appearing more attractive.
• Expressions that convey a positive impression.
• Skin or facial condition appearing well-maintained.
• Overall appearance giving a certain impression.

However, this list is not a checklist to determine whether someone is rich or poor. A person may appear healthy and well-groomed due to personal habits, work, environment, or other factors that have nothing to do with wealth.

4. Facial Expressions Can Also Change Judgments

The same face can convey different impressions when its expression changes. Research by Bjornsdottir and Beacon shows that manipulating emotional expressions can shift participants' judgments about someone's social class. A face with a certain expression can lead to someone being perceived as having a different social status.

This explains why the term rich people's face on social media does not always refer to specific features like the nose, eyes, jaw, or particular parts of the face. The impression can arise from the overall appearance of the face, including the expressions visible when someone is photographed or interacting with others.

5. Appearance Is Not Evidence of Someone's Economic Condition

Research on faces and social class needs to be understood carefully. Human beings' ability to make above-average judgments does not mean they can always accurately determine someone's financial condition.

For example, a study by Yue Qi, Qi Li, and Feng Du in 2018 examined the relationship between socioeconomic status information and judgments of trustworthiness based on faces. The researchers found that individuals with higher income information were perceived as more trustworthy in certain research conditions.

This finding indicates that information about economic status can influence judgments about someone, but it does not mean that a face automatically indicates someone's income.

Therefore, someone who appears simple does not necessarily have a low economic condition. Similarly, a person who looks luxurious or has a face considered to belong to the rich does not necessarily possess great wealth.

6. So, Is There Really a Face of the Rich?

The Rich/Illustration Credit Unsplash

The answer is that there is no specific face shape that can scientifically be called the face of the rich. Research has indeed found that humans can make estimates about social class from faces, and that characteristics such as visible health, attractiveness, and expressions can influence those judgments.

Thus, the term 'face of the rich' is more accurately considered as popular language to describe the impression someone gets when looking at another person's face. This impression can be influenced by various stereotypes and social experiences, and therefore cannot be used as a reliable measure to accurately determine someone's economic condition.

7. Common Questions About the Difference in the Faces of the Rich According to Studies

What does 'the rich' mean?

'The rich' is a slang term used to refer to people who are considered affluent or have a lot of wealth.

Are there specific facial features of rich people?

There is no specific face shape that has been scientifically proven to characterize rich people.

What makes someone considered to have the face of the rich?

A face that appears healthy, attractive, positive, or well-groomed can create an impression of a higher social status.

Who are the researchers studying the relationship between faces and social class?

Among them are R. Thora Bjornsdottir and Nicholas O. Rule in 2017, as well as R. Thora Bjornsdottir and Elizabeth Beacon in 2024.

Can a face indicate whether someone is rich or poor?

A face can influence someone's perception of social status, but it cannot serve as definitive evidence of economic condition.

(kpl/rao)