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7 experiments that prove how little we know about ourselves
Sometimes it seems to us that we know everything about our character and can accurately predict the reaction to any action. In fact, a variety of experiments prove that your psyche is more complex than you think.
We can push ourselves to a lot.
In 2000, artist Marco Evaristi performed a performance. Visitors to the gallery saw ten blenders, each of which was swimming goldfish. Anyone could destroy it by pressing a button.
An hour later, one of the visitors did. The electricity was cut off and the police arrived. Gallery directors were accused of animal cruelty and fined.
That is, the audience actually created such a tense atmosphere that one of them could not stand it and pressed the button.
We “fit” reality to our ideas about ourselves.
In 1993, scientists in Ohio put makeup on the face of several women, depicting large, ugly scars. They were given to look at themselves in the mirror and told that in this form they would meet strangers. After that, a supposed protective cream was applied to the faces, but in fact the scars were washed away without warning the participants of the experiment.
After the meeting, many women reported that they had been subjected to various forms of discrimination, and were even able to tell exactly what words and actions the interlocutor used to insult them.
Although none of them had visible facial defects (the scars had already been removed), this knowledge was enough to make them feel discriminated against.
We don't notice much around us.
In this experiment, the actor approached a pedestrian to find out the way. While the passerby explained, between the interlocutors passed workers who carried the door, blocking them from each other for a few seconds. The actor was replaced, and in front of the passer-by was a completely different person - he differed from the first actor in height, clothing, hairstyle, voice. And yet, most people did not notice the substitution.
It's "change blindness," and it shows how selective our perceptions are.
Willpower directly affects our success.
The Marshmallow Test experiment was first conducted 40 years ago. Later it turned out that preschoolers who were able to wait longer were much less likely to have problems with behavior, drugs and overweight in high school compared to children who could not withstand a minute.
Now, the researchers continued this study with a group of adults who are now in their 40s. They were shown images on a computer screen, and along the way they had to perform certain tasks. Those who showed a lack of willpower in childhood and adulthood performed worse as they were distracted by pictures.
Scientists emphasize that lack of willpower does not mean underdevelopment of intelligence, and in some cases, giving up pleasure can be the wrong choice. “It is people who follow their emotional impulses that become great travelers or entrepreneurs,” says Maya Salavitz.
There is more violence in us than we think.
The basement of Stanford University was equipped as a prison and invited male volunteers for the experiment. By lot, the students-volunteers were divided into two groups of 12 people – “guardians” and “prisoners”. Before that, they were tested for mental stability and health.
All participants in both groups received the same salary. The experiment was supposed to last 4 weeks.
Prisoners were given prison clothes and given numbers, stripping them of their names. The guards were dressed in real uniforms of prison guards, given clubs and glasses that hide their eyes. They had one task: to observe the prisoners without the use of force.
On the second day, the prisoners rebelled. Fire extinguishers were used to stop the unrest. Soon the guards were forcing their prisoners to sleep naked on concrete, and the opportunity to use the shower and toilet became a privilege.
One in three guards showed sadistic tendencies and cruelty – they openly abused prisoners. One participant went on hunger strike and was placed in a cramped closet.
Other inmates were asked to either give up blankets for one night, or leave the troublemaker alone for the night. Only one person agreed.
The experiment had to be completed in a week instead of the planned four. Many guards regretted the early closure of the experimental prison in the basement of the university.
Authority is above moral standards.
How much suffering are ordinary people willing to inflict on others if it is part of their job duties?
In the Yale experiment, the “student” had to perform tasks, and the “teacher” had to check and punish him for each error with a shock. Of course, the “apprentice” was only an actor and only pretended to get a discharge.
The "teacher" went to another room, where there was a generator with levers on which voltage was written - that is, he was aware of the danger of current to the subject. Starting with 15 V, the “teacher” with each new error had to increase the voltage up to 450 V. When it came to the hardest hit, the experimenter demanded that the "teacher" keep using the last switch.
If the “teacher” was in doubt, the experimenter would ask him to continue, arguing more and more strongly that it was necessary for the experiment. In addition, the "teachers" assured that the "student" will not receive serious injuries.
The results showed that most of the “teachers” (26 of 40) continued to dutifully use the maximum voltage (450 V) until the researcher gave the order to finish the experiment.
This showed the complete readiness of normal adults to go to great lengths, following the directions of authority.
Our beliefs prevent us from perceiving reality.
Arthur Ellison, a professor of electrical engineering and an amateur joker, decided to end the lecture with a game. He asked a group of volunteers (some of them his fellow professors) to focus on the iron flower vase on the table. They had to look at it and try to force the vase to levitate. They succeeded: the vase soared above the table. Allison wasn’t surprised – he helped the vase levitate with an electromagnet.
Then opinions about the causes of this phenomenon were divided. One participant said he saw a gray substance that helps the vase levitate. Another participant claimed that nothing happened and the vase did not budge.
Both “edited” reality to please their beliefs and got it wrong.
source:adme.ru
Source: /users/1077
We can push ourselves to a lot.
In 2000, artist Marco Evaristi performed a performance. Visitors to the gallery saw ten blenders, each of which was swimming goldfish. Anyone could destroy it by pressing a button.
An hour later, one of the visitors did. The electricity was cut off and the police arrived. Gallery directors were accused of animal cruelty and fined.
That is, the audience actually created such a tense atmosphere that one of them could not stand it and pressed the button.
We “fit” reality to our ideas about ourselves.
In 1993, scientists in Ohio put makeup on the face of several women, depicting large, ugly scars. They were given to look at themselves in the mirror and told that in this form they would meet strangers. After that, a supposed protective cream was applied to the faces, but in fact the scars were washed away without warning the participants of the experiment.
After the meeting, many women reported that they had been subjected to various forms of discrimination, and were even able to tell exactly what words and actions the interlocutor used to insult them.
Although none of them had visible facial defects (the scars had already been removed), this knowledge was enough to make them feel discriminated against.
We don't notice much around us.
In this experiment, the actor approached a pedestrian to find out the way. While the passerby explained, between the interlocutors passed workers who carried the door, blocking them from each other for a few seconds. The actor was replaced, and in front of the passer-by was a completely different person - he differed from the first actor in height, clothing, hairstyle, voice. And yet, most people did not notice the substitution.
It's "change blindness," and it shows how selective our perceptions are.
Willpower directly affects our success.
The Marshmallow Test experiment was first conducted 40 years ago. Later it turned out that preschoolers who were able to wait longer were much less likely to have problems with behavior, drugs and overweight in high school compared to children who could not withstand a minute.
Now, the researchers continued this study with a group of adults who are now in their 40s. They were shown images on a computer screen, and along the way they had to perform certain tasks. Those who showed a lack of willpower in childhood and adulthood performed worse as they were distracted by pictures.
Scientists emphasize that lack of willpower does not mean underdevelopment of intelligence, and in some cases, giving up pleasure can be the wrong choice. “It is people who follow their emotional impulses that become great travelers or entrepreneurs,” says Maya Salavitz.
There is more violence in us than we think.
The basement of Stanford University was equipped as a prison and invited male volunteers for the experiment. By lot, the students-volunteers were divided into two groups of 12 people – “guardians” and “prisoners”. Before that, they were tested for mental stability and health.
All participants in both groups received the same salary. The experiment was supposed to last 4 weeks.
Prisoners were given prison clothes and given numbers, stripping them of their names. The guards were dressed in real uniforms of prison guards, given clubs and glasses that hide their eyes. They had one task: to observe the prisoners without the use of force.
On the second day, the prisoners rebelled. Fire extinguishers were used to stop the unrest. Soon the guards were forcing their prisoners to sleep naked on concrete, and the opportunity to use the shower and toilet became a privilege.
One in three guards showed sadistic tendencies and cruelty – they openly abused prisoners. One participant went on hunger strike and was placed in a cramped closet.
Other inmates were asked to either give up blankets for one night, or leave the troublemaker alone for the night. Only one person agreed.
The experiment had to be completed in a week instead of the planned four. Many guards regretted the early closure of the experimental prison in the basement of the university.
Authority is above moral standards.
How much suffering are ordinary people willing to inflict on others if it is part of their job duties?
In the Yale experiment, the “student” had to perform tasks, and the “teacher” had to check and punish him for each error with a shock. Of course, the “apprentice” was only an actor and only pretended to get a discharge.
The "teacher" went to another room, where there was a generator with levers on which voltage was written - that is, he was aware of the danger of current to the subject. Starting with 15 V, the “teacher” with each new error had to increase the voltage up to 450 V. When it came to the hardest hit, the experimenter demanded that the "teacher" keep using the last switch.
If the “teacher” was in doubt, the experimenter would ask him to continue, arguing more and more strongly that it was necessary for the experiment. In addition, the "teachers" assured that the "student" will not receive serious injuries.
The results showed that most of the “teachers” (26 of 40) continued to dutifully use the maximum voltage (450 V) until the researcher gave the order to finish the experiment.
This showed the complete readiness of normal adults to go to great lengths, following the directions of authority.
Our beliefs prevent us from perceiving reality.
Arthur Ellison, a professor of electrical engineering and an amateur joker, decided to end the lecture with a game. He asked a group of volunteers (some of them his fellow professors) to focus on the iron flower vase on the table. They had to look at it and try to force the vase to levitate. They succeeded: the vase soared above the table. Allison wasn’t surprised – he helped the vase levitate with an electromagnet.
Then opinions about the causes of this phenomenon were divided. One participant said he saw a gray substance that helps the vase levitate. Another participant claimed that nothing happened and the vase did not budge.
Both “edited” reality to please their beliefs and got it wrong.
source:adme.ru
Source: /users/1077
