Why do glasses make people look more intelligent? © Getty Images

Quick Q&A: Why do glasses make people look more intelligent?

Rocking the geek chic look with a pair of specs? Although we can’t promise that glasses will make you smarter, you’ll sure look brainy.

Asked by: Rosie Stevenson, Derby


 It’s an association that starts early: when primary school children are asked to draw a scientist or ‘smart person’, they tend to depict them with glasses (perhaps influenced by spectacle-wearing characters like Harry Potter).

This association may be because we tend to assume that short-sighted people are more ‘bookish’ – a stereotype with more than a grain of truth. Lack of time spent outside has been shown to contribute to short-sightedness, as has time spent engaging in close-up work such as reading.

Read more:

