Voters Favor Candidates With Lower Voices
Deep, chest-level speech sounds powerful and authoritative.
TED · How to Speak So That People Want to Listen | Julian Treasure | TEDVoters tend to favor political candidates with lower voices.
Julian Treasure, a sound and communication expert, in a talk on speaking so people listen, traces the effect to where the voice sits in the body. Many people speak mainly from the throat, and some speak higher, from the nose. Real weight, he says, comes from the chest, and listeners can hear the difference.
As Treasure put it, we associate that "depth with power and with authority." He says "We vote for politicians with lower voices" for that reason.
Questions people ask
Can I train myself to speak more from the chest?
Yes, within limits. Voice coaches typically work on posture, relaxed shoulders, and slow diaphragmatic breathing, which lets the chest resonate more fully. Humming, lip rolls, and reading aloud while monitoring for throat tightness can help you find and keep a lower placement.
Do lower voices help women candidates too?
Research generally finds that both men and women with lower-pitched voices are rated as more competent, strong, and leaderlike. The preference is relative, so voters respond to lower pitch for the speaker's sex, not to male pitch alone. Extremely low or strained delivery can backfire by sounding unnatural.
Why do we link low pitch to power?
The association likely starts with biology. Larger bodies tend to produce lower-pitched sounds, so depth becomes a cue for size and strength across many mammals. In people, testosterone lowers the voice at puberty, while posture and calm breathing affect how the voice sounds, reinforcing the link to authority.