Looking competent matters for electoral success, but its appeal varies by social class, according to research published in Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin. The way politicians look can influence voting decisions. Prior studies have shown that voters tend to favor candidates who appear competent, even when they lack other information about them. This phenomenon has been observed across various electoral contexts and has been linked to actual election outcomes. But do all voters rely on this visual cue equally? Fabienne Unkelbach and colleagues investigated whether social class plays a role in how much voters prioritize competence in politicians. They hypothesized that individuals from higher socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds would value competence more because it aligns with their self-perception. High-status individuals often see themselves as more competent, and research suggests that people tend to evaluate others based on traits they consider central to their own identity. The first study surveyed a representative German sample of 2,239 participants, asking them to rate the importance of various traits in politicians, including competence, assertiveness, warmth, and trustworthiness. Participants also …