Did Winston Churchill’s Lopsided Face Win World War Two?

Okay, so Winston Churchill’s asymmetrical face obviously didn’t directly win the Second World War, but it may have contributed to him being a better leader. A new study published in the Harvard Business Review argues that those with lopsided faces make superior leaders.

Symmetry has long been held up as a sign of strength and/or beauty, but the work of Dr. Carl Senior at the UK’s Aston University suggest an uneven face has its own innate perks.

The doctor carried out two studies to assess the physical symmetry of students. In each study, measurements were taken of several features, including finger length, wrist width and ear length.

After that, subjects were given psychometric tests or roleplaying tasks to evaluate their leadership skills. And lo, the results indicated a notable correlation between specific leadership qualities and asymmetrical features.

But what on earth does an oversized ear have to do with leadership? Dr. Senior has a theory:

“Winston Churchill was a great leader, and I would assume he was fairly asymmetrical. It may be people who are asymmetrical have to work harder and this compensatory socialisation manifests itself in organisational ability and leadership qualities.”

Bizarre as all of this may sound, ties betwen physical symmetry and personality traits have been tested before: previously, studies have shown found those with asymmetrical faces and bodies can be more aggressive when provoked.