Military Rank Attainment of a West Point Class: Effects of Cadets' Physical Features

Abstract

Prior research has shown that males are perceived, on the basis of their physical characteristics, as either dominant or submissive individuals, that is, as assertive leaders or as uninfluential followers. In particular, certain facial features, tallness, and an athletic physique are perceived as dominant characteristic. Do such physical features affect social mobility? Do dominant-looking men advance to higher ranks in the military hierarchy than submissive-looking men? The yearbook of the West Point Class of 1950 provides facial portraits of the graduating cadets, allows close approximations of their height and athletic prowess, and gives their military ranks while at the academy; their ultimate ranks appear in West Point's Register of Graduates. This paper finds a substantial correlation between facial appearance and military rank while at West Point, as well as several weaker relationships.