Media analysts have argued that a major factor in Barack Obama’s

political success is his nonthreatening demeanor, to counteract the

stereotype of the threatening black man. Researchers wondered if there

might be a similar counter-stereotypical pattern for black CEOs, even

on a purely visual level. They asked people to rate pictures of CEOs

for baby-facedness, warmth, and competence. Relative to white CEOs,

black CEOs were rated as more baby-faced – and, consistent with prior

research on baby-faced stereotypes, seen as warmer and less competent.

For blacks, being baby-faced meant earning more money, the study found,

whereas white CEOs earned less money if they were baby-faced. According

to the authors, this confirms that blacks need “disarming mechanisms”

to be successful in corporate America.