January 18, 2007

A Scientific Basis for the Republican Party

In yet another leap forward by science, a University of Minnesota study demonstrates that simple exposure to the concept of money tends to make you an asshole.

Results indicate that these people also work longer before asking for help, are less helpful to others, and prefer to play and work alone. In addition, people who are exposed to the concept of money can even put more physical distance between themselves and a new acquaintance as compared to people who are not reminded of money.

"It's not malicious," Vohs said. "People are focused on their own goals -- but unfortunately not others -- and are motivated to work really hard to achieve them."
Note that in the article, the phrase "elevates a sense of self-sufficiency" is used instead of "becoming a unbelievably self-obsessed dicktard" (it is after all a management-marketing study).

Thi is clearly a new penetration into human psychology. For example, except for every song, novel, painting and movie about money ever created, it suggests for the first time that money is a corrupting influence on human behavior, detracting from out natural inclination to trust others and be interested in their welfare as well as ours.

3 Comments:

Blogger Corresponding Secretary General said...

Wish I knew what it meant by being "exposed to the concept of money."

January 18, 2007 at 10:04 AM  
Blogger JAB said...

The link at the top is more descriptive: the experiments were varied. Often, images of money, or words such as "salary" were introduced to experimental groups.

January 18, 2007 at 10:15 AM  
Blogger Undersecretary to the Deputy Commissariat said...

I for one applaud this brilliant new direction in behavioral studies, and hereby volunteer to assist the researchers in taking their work to the next empirical level.

There's no denying that I would face some risk of being less helpful to my friends and fellow humans, but to shrink from that risk and obstruct the progress of Science would be small-minded of me.

January 18, 2007 at 4:39 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home