Stilettoes bring men to heel, says study

28 November 2014 - 02:00 By ©The Daily Telegraph
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Scientists have already proven that high heels change a woman's gait, making her take shorter, more ladylike strides, while encouraging an alluring swing of the hips.

But a new study suggests that slipping into a pair of heels could also bring out the best in men, making them more willing to help.

Nicholas Guéguen, of the Université de Bretagne-Sud in France, found that the height of a woman's heel exerts a powerful influence on men's behaviour.

Guéguen sent a woman in different heel heights into the streets of Brittany and asked 90 random men to complete a quick survey.

The 19-year-old woman alternately wore flat shoes and a pair of 9cm-high stilettoes.

Men were more likely to respond when the woman wore higher heels - 82% agreed to do the survey when she wore high heels, compared with 42% when she wore flats.

But ladies did not fall for it.

Only about 33% of women on average said yes to the survey request, regardless of the heel.

Guéguen also tested people's empathy, observing how 180 men and 180 women responded when four young women of the same height, weight and shoe size dropped a glove while wearing different heel heights.

A whopping 93% of men chased after the women when they wore high heels to return the glove, compared to 62% when she wore flat shoes.

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