Scientists in Chicago and Zurich have collaborated on a study of 60 recordings of male advocates in the US Supreme Court, playing them to 200 volunteers. The volunteers rated them in a number of categories including intelligence and trustworthiness.
Compensating
Only one of the traits helped predict the outcome of cases - and that was the masculinity of the voices. Those seeming less masculine were more likely to win. Alan Yu of the University of Chicago said: 'It was a surprise to all of us.' Mr Yu added: 'Lawyers who think they're going to lose may project a different kind of voice, perhaps overcompensating by sounding more masculine.' Source: New Scientist
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