The happiest people - selfish

«People often act like selfish, - says American psychologist Jonathan Berman - But if they act otherwise, they do so precisely because they know that otherwise would feel dishonest selfish. " Under the guidance of professor Deborah Small Berman has done very interesting work on the selfish behavior, torments of conscience - and, in general, that, fortunately.

For the first experiment were selected 216 student volunteers, each were issued for three dollars. This amount is one group had to donate to UNICEF, the second - just put it in his pocket, in the third group of the same participants could choose to donate any money or keep. As might be expected, the second group as a result of feeling generally more satisfied than others - scientists have suggested that it is because in this case they could do with a completely selfish a clear conscience. They had no choice, so they instructed.

Of course, maybe it simply because they do not have to decide - because the process always causes frustration? To test this, I was put another experiment, participants who were offered other options, be sure to contain a choice. The first group - to receive a gift certificate for five dollars or donate the same amount to charity. Second - get one of the two five-dollar gift certificates to choose from. The third - to give five dollars to charity, UNICEF or the Red Cross. The happiest were again involuntary selfish - those who had to choose between a couple of gift cards.

Finally, the author was placed and an experiment. The experimental to decide, they will leave themselves a small prize, or donate it to charity, and then one group warned that they will decide - and will be, and the second - which ultimately decides the fate of the money in case the computer. The happiest were those who chose to take the money, and then "Computer" and decided the money they leave. In other words - again, those who acted selfishly, but got a full-blown justification for such action, forcing silence the voice of conscience.

For all that, people still, it's nice to feel at least the illusion of choice. When asked what they would prefer - a cash bonus to have to stay with you, so you must have been transferred to a charity, or that you yourself have decided - more than 63% of the test were selected to choose.

via factroom.ru