Improve Your Personal 'Curb Appeal'

Of course, Westen is referring to personal curb appeal. "One of the main determinants of electoral success," he explains, "is simply a candidate's curb appeal. Curb appeal is the feeling voters get when they 'drive by' a candidate a few times on television and form an emotional impression." Research shows that personal curb appeal can be assessed quickly. Psychologists Nalini Ambady and Bob Rosenthal conducted experiments involving what they called "Thin slices of behavior." These studies have been referenced in numerous writings - most famously, in Malcolm Gladwell's book, Blink.