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How Much Money Do You Need to Feel Taller? Impact of Money on Perception of Body Height

Author

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  • Radosław Walczak

    (Psychology Institute, University of Opole, 45-040 Opole, Poland)

  • Przemysław Zdybek

    (Psychology Institute, University of Opole, 45-040 Opole, Poland)

  • Felice Giuliani

    (Department of Psychological, Health & Territorial Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
    Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Luca Tommasi

    (Department of Psychological, Health & Territorial Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

Abstract

Body height is considered to be one of the most important reproductive signals. However, there are only a few publications on what influences the sense of whether we assess ourselves as tall or short. In the present contribution, the psychological impact of money on the evaluation of a person’s own height was tested. We performed two experimental studies in which the respondents had contact with different amounts of money and were asked to evaluate their body height with the use of a laser pointer. The first experiment ( N = 61) showed that contact with money significantly increased subjective height evaluation, and the effect was independent of participants’ real body height. The second experiment ( N = 120) replicated the effect of money manipulation. Moreover, it was shown that higher amounts of money increased one’s own height estimation more than smaller amounts. Our research shows that money can be used for building one’s social position, which is an attractiveness signal that can influence one’s own height evaluation.

Suggested Citation

  • Radosław Walczak & Przemysław Zdybek & Felice Giuliani & Luca Tommasi, 2021. "How Much Money Do You Need to Feel Taller? Impact of Money on Perception of Body Height," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-9, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4533-:d:542788
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fehr, Ernst & Tyran, Jean-Robert, 2007. "Money illusion and coordination failure," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 246-268, February.
    2. Prince, Melvin, 1993. "Self-concept, money beliefs and values," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 161-173, March.
    3. Olivier Oullier & Frédéric Basso, 2010. "Embodied economics: how bodily information shapes the social coordination dynamics of decision-making," Post-Print halshs-00461761, HAL.
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