The Warren Harding Effect and Playing Into your Archetype

ponderosa

ponderosa

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Warren Harding was the 29th President of the United States. He is widely regarded to be one of the worst.

Despite his incompetence, lack of experience, and frankly shit decision making, he was still thrust higher and higher up the rungs of the political ladder due to one reason. His looks.

Warren Harding looked like a president. His campaign manager could win people over just by saying, "He looks like a president," and everybody couldn't help but agree. Before this, he became a Senator in the same way. This would become known as the "Warren Harding Effect."

Images 20 Image 2026 03 06 183225279
Warren Harding (Yeah, this was considered "the model president" during the time.. :forcedsmile:)

Yes, it is similar to the halo effect, but I believe it to be more archetype-centered. Warren Harding couldn't have gotten that far just by looking good (he didn't even look that good either lmao), he had to look like a leader. My theory is that playing into your archetype is the BEST thing you could do to succeed. Even if aren't super attractive, you can still see great success in the facet of your archetype. (Atleast, this is my theory)

I'm sure we all knew that playing into your archetype was beneficial, but I am proposing that more specific archetypes (not just the normal spectrum) like presidential, intellectual, nerd (this ones jfl, just chad with glasses :lul:) etc, could move you far, much farther than the regular halo would in certain fields.

Here is an example: Distinctive Facial Cues Predict Leadership Rank and Selection
This study tested leadership choice and performance in two groups, law firms and mafia families. It was shown that certain facial features and qualities had an impact of who was chosen to lead, and how they preformed. However, these facial features leading to success were different in each group. The law firms preferred leaders who looked strong and capable, whereas the crime leaders found more success in features that were sociable. Each group required a different specific archetype.

Here's another, just to prove my point: The Many (distinctive) Faces of Leadership
In this study, participants were given a group of 'Leaders' in different fields. They were able to guess correctly at an above-chance accuracy. What does this mean? Well, it proves that certain positions have specific archetypes associated to them, deeper than just a broad "leader" archetype. It also proves that people with this archetype have more success in their fields, people think you "look like" a leader of your field, you get promoted. That's why the participants could tell who was head of what, because this success only reinforces stereotypes, leading more people to appoint "leader-like" people to that position. Its a never-ending cycle that YOU must take advantage of.

Now, it may take more work to determine which archetype is which and categorize, given the specifics, but i'm sure you could look in the mirror and determine it yourself. Maybe ask the people around you what job what fit you, or ask people what job they think you have. Keep in mind this is my first theory-type post, and I might be failing english, anyway, be sure to add to this if you have more theories about this topic or something to add. There is also more archetype related threads to help you find your own. :p
 
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last boost ok
 
bump
 
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French morphology type post
 
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Warren Harding was the 29th President of the United States. He is widely regarded to be one of the worst.

Despite his incompetence, lack of experience, and frankly shit decision making, he was still thrust higher and higher up the rungs of the political ladder due to one reason. His looks.

Warren Harding looked like a president. His campaign manager could win people over just by saying, "He looks like a president," and everybody couldn't help but agree. Before this, he became a Senator in the same way. This would become known as the "Warren Harding Effect."

View attachment 4733819View attachment 4733828
Warren Harding (Yeah, this was considered "the model president" during the time.. :forcedsmile:)

Yes, it is similar to the halo effect, but I believe it to be more archetype-centered. Warren Harding couldn't have gotten that far just by looking good (he didn't even look that good either lmao), he had to look like a leader. My theory is that playing into your archetype is the BEST thing you could do to succeed. Even if aren't super attractive, you can still see great success in the facet of your archetype. (Atleast, this is my theory)

I'm sure we all knew that playing into your archetype was beneficial, but I am proposing that more specific archetypes (not just the normal spectrum) like presidential, intellectual, nerd (this ones jfl, just chad with glasses :lul:) etc, could move you far, much farther than the regular halo would in certain fields.

Here is an example: Distinctive Facial Cues Predict Leadership Rank and Selection
This study tested leadership choice and performance in two groups, law firms and mafia families. It was shown that certain facial features and qualities had an impact of who was chosen to lead, and how they preformed. However, these facial features leading to success were different in each group. The law firms preferred leaders who looked strong and capable, whereas the crime leaders found more success in features that were sociable. Each group required a different specific archetype.

Here's another, just to prove my point: The Many (distinctive) Faces of Leadership
In this study, participants were given a group of 'Leaders' in different fields. They were able to guess correctly at an above-chance accuracy. What does this mean? Well, it proves that certain positions have specific archetypes associated to them, deeper than just a broad "leader" archetype. It also proves that people with this archetype have more success in their fields, people think you "look like" a leader of your field, you get promoted. That's why the participants could tell who was head of what, because this success only reinforces stereotypes, leading more people to appoint "leader-like" people to that position. Its a never-ending cycle that YOU must take advantage of.

Now, it may take more work to determine which archetype is which and categorize, given the specifics, but i'm sure you could look in the mirror and determine it yourself. Maybe ask the people around you what job what fit you, or ask people what job they think you have. Keep in mind this is my first theory-type post, and I might be failing english, anyway, be sure to add to this if you have more theories about this topic or something to add. There is also more archetype related threads to help you find your own. :p
so the halo effect but more retarded? gotchu
 
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Archetypemaxxing is one of the most effective and overpowered things one could do which is why it must be kept on the low. Research the 12 jungian archetypes if you wanna go deeper into the rabbit hole, op
 
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