Some people are still surprised that certain colors and stripes can make your look slimmer or bigger, but our perceptions can sometimes work even weirder.
A team of researchers have discovered that certain numbers on jerseys make people look smaller or bigger, depending on a number printed.
Let's find out more about how it works.
New quirks of our perception
In 2019, ESPN reported that many football wide receivers preferred wearing jersey numbers between 10 and 19, believing it made them look faster and slimmer.
A new UCLA study supports this belief.
How it was conducted
In experiments, people consistently thought players in jerseys numbered 10-19 looked thinner, even with similar body sizes.
Lead researcher Ladan Shams explains our brains use learned associations to make quick judgments.
For example, we associate higher numbers with bigger or heavier things.
The NFL used to require wide receivers to wear numbers between 80 and 89, but this changed in 2004, allowing lower numbers.
By 2019, around 80% of wide receivers chose numbers 10-19.
Why it's important
This research highlights how learned associations can influence our perceptions, not just in football but in various aspects of life.
Recognizing these biases can help promote fairness and inclusivity in our judgments and decisions.
