Prepping for the Presidential Debates: How Should the Candidates Carry Themselves? Expert in gender stereotyping and social perception available to discuss how voice, mannerisms, preconceived notions affect audience impression Dr. Elizabeth Haines Dr. Elizabeth Haines, professor of psychology at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ, is a social and personality psychologist who has authored many articles about gender stereotyping and perception. She is an expert in how gender, attractiveness and body language, among other attributes, affect people’s impressions of someone in positive and negative ways, and her recent research demonstrates that gender stereotypes have not changed in more than 30 years. Dr. Haines has found that ambitious women are often perceived aggressive and pushy, while ambitious men are respected. She explains that forceful and decisive women making impassioned statements are thought of as angry and shrill; such men are perceived as competent and charismatic. People respond more positively to Donald Trump’s yelling and riling them up, while ignoring his flip-flopping on issues, because he is male, according to Dr. Haines. “No woman, ever in a million years, could get away with that,” Haines says. Her research shows that women – particularly ambitious women – are trusted more when they engage in traditionally gender-appropriate behavior, such as being warm and friendly. Hillary Clinton is subsequently in a double bind for the debates, trying to find the sweet spot between coming off as too competent and too warm. “Consistent with gender research through the years, many people see Donald Trump as regaining masculinity while Hillary Clinton seems emasculating,” she says. To set up an interview, call or email William Paterson University Media Relations Coordinator Phillip Sprayberry.973.720.2971sprayberryp@wpunj.edu 09/25/16
