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Number Crunching May Make People More Selfish
In the 1970s, the Ford Pinto became synonymous with unethical management decisions. Although it was known that the car had an unfortunate tendency to explode in rear-end collisions, Ford went ahead with production after a cost-benefit analysis predicted savings of $11 per car, at a cost of only 180 burn deaths. As a result, several dozen people were injured or killed before the design flaw came to light. New research suggests that even basic math calculations may significantly increase people’s likelihood of engaging in selfish and unethical behavior. Researchers Long Wang (City University of Hong Kong) Chen-Bo Zhong (University of Toronto), and J.
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Apple or Ice Cream? The Mechanics of a Healthy Choice
You’ve been trying to lose some weight, but you also get hungry for a snack in the evening. So imagine you go to the kitchen to check out your options, and you find apples and
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Das entfesselte Selbst (The unbridled self)
Die Welt: Für den, der sich in gefährliche Gewässer begibt, ist es wichtig zu wissen, was ihn erwartet. Odysseus, der bekannteste Seefahrer der griechischen Mythologie, wusste es. Andere hatten ihn vor den Sirenen gewarnt, die er auf seiner Heimfahrt von Troja treffen würde. Die Fabelwesen saßen auf Klippen in der See und lockten mit ihrem unwiderstehlichen Gesang die Schiffe so nah an die Klippen, dass sie dort zerschellten. Darum ließ sich Odysseus an den Schiffsmast binden und verstopfte die Ohren seiner Matrosen mit Wachs. Diese bewusste Entscheidung, sich selbst zu kontrollieren, ließ ihn in die Reise überstehen.
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Alcohol Makes Smiles More “Contagious,” but Only for Men
Consuming an alcoholic beverage may make men more responsive to the smiles of others in their social group, according to new research in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The findings suggest that, for men, alcohol increases sensitivity to rewarding social behaviors like smiling, and may shed light on risk factors that contribute to problem drinking among men. “This experimental alcohol study, which included a social context, finds the clearest evidence yet of greater alcohol reinforcement for men than women,” says psychological scientist and lead researcher Catharine Fairbairn of the University of Pittsburgh.
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Wealth, Welfare and the Brother-in-Law Rule
The Huffington Post: One of the enigmas of the American political landscape is the impoverished Republican. This is the American with very little money, and many unmet needs, who nevertheless votes for people and policies that will deny him or her assistance. Indeed, many of the reddest states in the nation -- those whose elected leaders want to gut the state's welfare programs -- are among the largest beneficiaries of government aid. This makes no sense. With economic inequality at a historic high, why would so many Americans want to cut spending on social services targeted specifically for them?
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Stigma bars mentally ill from seeking care
Zee News: While stigma is one of many factors that may influence care seeking, it is one that has profound effects for those who suffer from mental illness, says a study. The desire to avoid public stigma causes individuals to drop out of treatment or avoid it entirely for fear of being associated with negative stereotypes, the findings showed. What is more, public stigma may also influence the beliefs and behaviours of those closest to individuals with mental illness, including friends, family and care providers. "The prejudice and discrimination of mental illness is as disabling as the illness itself.
