Men who exhibit a more "polite" gait, with torso and back movement, are perceived by others as more dominant and potentially aggressive, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports (SciRep).
A team of researchers led by Dr Conor Leslie of Northumbria University used motion capture technology to record the natural gait of 52 men. This data was then transferred to digital avatars of similar height and build, allowing participants to judge their personality based on their movements alone.
The results showed that even in the absence of visual cues (facial expression, height, clothing), people perceived more assertive avatars as more dominant. As Leslie explains, such movements may have evolved to signal strength and threat.
"Our study shows that humans have evolved the ability to quickly identify potentially dangerous opponents based on their movements." "This probably played a significant role in survival in the early stages of evolution," the scientist noted.
Pulling back the shoulders and moving the torso makes a person look bigger. According to the researchers, similar behavioral signs in animals (such as lions or pigeons) also serve to show power and attract attention.
In the past, cognitive psychologist Nicolaus Troyer has also emphasized that men can, consciously or unconsciously, use gait characteristics to appear larger and intimidate potential rivals.
