But you knew this already, pt. II: Thinking you're being watched makes you act more honestly

[dianeduane]

And it makes sense, when you think about it...

In an interesting experiment a team from Newcastle University found people put nearly three times as much money into a canteen 'honesty box' when buying a drink, when they were being watched by a pair of eyes on a poster.

...The eyes it seems were more effective than a poster that featured an image of flowers and raises the possibility that people are encouraged to behave more co-operatively or pro-socially by putting up pictures of eyes.

...Although the eye pictures varied in the sex and head orientation all were chosen so that the eyes were looking directly at the observer.

And now I'm starting to wonder if pictures that aren't staring at you are stolen more frequently than ones that are.

...It's too early in the day for this kind of thing. I think I need more tea.

 

Comments

[kayshapero]

When I was in college in the early '70s, someone posted a small copy of the (then) infamous picture of Burt Reynolds in a nearly-nude cheesecake pose with an ungodly smirk on his face on the inside door of one of the stalls in the women's restroom in my dorm. Judging by the fact that there always seemed to be plenty of tp in that one, I suspect that the women I observed going into the stall, coming out again, and using one of the other two were in the majority... And yes, I did do that myself. :)