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Watchful eyes foster honesty CBC News June 29, 2006 A poster showing a pair of eyes may be a way to deter thieves and freeloaders, psychologists say. Researchers at the University of Newcastle in northeastern England set up an experiment for their colleagues. For years, the lounge in the psychology department has had an "honesty box," where academics can pay a listed price and help themselves to coffee, tea and milk. There is no cashier monitoring if people pay for their beverages. Over 10 weeks, the researchers placed a sign above the box. Each week, they alternated pictures of eyes with flowers. The eyes were male or female and had various expressions. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com On average, people paid nearly three times as much for their drinks on the weeks when the poster featured eyes, the team reports in Wednesday's issue of the journal Biology Letters. "Our brains are programmed to respond to eyes and faces whether we are consciously aware of it or not," the study's lead author, Melissa Bateson, said in a release. The results suggest people are less likely to be selfish when they feel they are being watched because we're attuned to subconscious clues that can damage their reputation, the study said. The findings could have applications in curbing anti-social behaviour, such as enforcing payment on public transit or speed cameras. Drivers may respond more quickly to stimuli such as eyes and faces rather than an image of camera, Bateson said. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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Watchful eyes foster honesty

CBC News
June 29, 2006

Science A poster showing a pair of eyes may be a way to deter thieves and freeloaders, psychologists say.

Researchers at the University of Newcastle in northeastern England set up an experiment for their colleagues.

For years, the lounge in the psychology department has had an "honesty box," where academics can pay a listed price and help themselves to coffee, tea and milk.

There is no cashier monitoring if people pay for their beverages.

Over 10 weeks, the researchers placed a sign above the box. Each week, they alternated pictures of eyes with flowers. The eyes were male or female and had various expressions.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

On average, people paid nearly three times as much for their drinks on the weeks when the poster featured eyes, the team reports in Wednesday's issue of the journal Biology Letters.

"Our brains are programmed to respond to eyes and faces whether we are consciously aware of it or not," the study's lead author, Melissa Bateson, said in a release.

The results suggest people are less likely to be selfish when they feel they are being watched because we're attuned to subconscious clues that can damage their reputation, the study said.

The findings could have applications in curbing anti-social behaviour, such as enforcing payment on public transit or speed cameras.

Drivers may respond more quickly to stimuli such as eyes and faces rather than an image of camera, Bateson said.

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