He’s the voice of God in movies. Navigation system users have always wanted an add-on to have his voice direct them to their destination (which has been answered by the navigation app Waze).
What makes Morgan Freeman’s voice the best? Well, there are some science-backed reasons as to why his vocal chords have so many fans.
The first explanation is straightforward, says Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center: “Some of the voices we hear all the time, they really form the backdrop of our lives.” Seeing Freeman in movies over the decades has solidified that positive association.
“You would turn right when he told you to,” Rutledge says.
As for the scientific reasons? In previous science experiments, people consistently perceive low-pitched voices in men as stronger and more physically attractive than those with a higher pitch.
“It’s not surprising that Morgan Freeman is used for a lot of voiceover work, because his voice is perceived as that of a dominant, strong male figure,” says Casey Klofstad, associate professor of political science at the University of Miami.
The subconscious preference for deep-voiced people can even influence who’s elected into power. Klofstad held a study where he recorded men and women saying, “I urge you to vote for me this November.” He then digitally raised or lowered the pitches of the recordings, and across the board, the deeper voices were preferred in both sexes. Klofstad believes people’s ears associate deep pitches to integrity, competence and physical power.
If you’re looking for that sophisticated growl similar to Freeman – well, you’d probably rather hear him say it:
Photo credit: Everett Collection/Shutterstock