Heterosexual vs. Homosexual “Swagger” – Can You Spot the Difference?
Jenny Galvao
Research led by Kerri Johnson, New York University, has confirmed a long held belief – we’re able to discern a person’s sexual orientation, so called “gaydar,” from simple observation.
In the study, subjects were instructed to observe the body-shape and motion of a passerby in order to determine if they were heterosexual, or homosexual. Results showed that it was easier to determine a man’s sexual orientation based on his swagger, as opposed to a woman’s, where body shape affected their assumed sexual orientation.
As the researchers explain, “we’ve found that casual observers can use gait and body shape to judge whether a stranger is gay or straight with a small but perceptible amount of accuracy.”
Sexual orientation can, in most cases, be judged very simply. Chances are good that you’ll know someone’s sexual orientation based on their body language before they even have the chance to tell you using their words.
In the first study, undergraduates observed “walkers,” which were computer generated images displaying a human silhouette. The walkers had five different levels of motion (ranging from extreme hip sway to extreme shoulder swagger), and five levels of body morphology (ranging from hourglass to tubular). Each walker was presented in a random order, and the participants identified the gender (male or female) and the sexual orientation (gay or straight), as well as masculinity or femininity using a ‘Likert-type’ scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 9 (completely).
The second study was the same, except this time some of the participants were told that the computer images depicted the motions of real men (in the male condition) and real women (in the female condition). The subjects then viewed each walker in a random order and made observations on the gender, sexual orientation, as well as the masculinity or femininity, using the same Likert-type scale.
In the third study, dynamic outlines of men and women were used as opposed to computer generated images. Participants were told that the outlines were real men and women who are openly gay or straight. The participants categorized the same characteristics as in the previous studies.
The results were replicated throughout studies 1 to 3. Body shape and motion equally pinpointed sexual orientation for men and women, but the cues were more often misinterpreted in the female targets.
Overall, it was discovered that much of our ability to detect sexual orientation is the result of a walker’s stride. As such, if a walker’s stride is more gender typical, it is more difficult to discern whether they are gay or straight. Therefore, to the observers, the “gender-atypical motion” was reflected back as homosexuality.
As the researchers explain, “we all appear to be able to deduce this information to some degree with just a glance, more comprehensive policies may be required to protect gays against discrimination based on their sexual orientation”.
Body cues are an excellent indicator of not only gender, but also sexual orientation. Additionally, body language, including just the simple motion in a person’s gait, in many cases, can provide more information in just seconds than can be conveyed in a five minute conversation.
If a complete stranger can identify something as personal as your sexual orientation upon just observing your stride, imagine what other details are gleaned from your body language.
About the Author: Jenny Galvao is an undergraduate student at the University of Guelph studying psychology.
Resources
Johnson, Kerri L.; Gill, Simone; Reichman, Victoria and Tassinary, Louis G. Swagger, Sway, and Sexuality: Judging Sexual Orientation from Body Motion and Morphology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2007. 93(3): 321-334. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.93.3.321