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Believing You Are Very Good Or Evil Boosts Your Physical Capabilities

Posted by samzenpus on from the strength-of-heart dept.

Research by Kurt Gray, a doctoral student in psychology at Harvard, shows that a person's capacity for willpower and physical endurance increases if they perceive themselves as good or evil. "Evil" acts in particular give a person a large boost in physical strength. From the article: “'People perceive those who do good and evil to have more efficacy, more willpower, and less sensitivity to discomfort,' Gray said. 'By perceiving themselves as good or evil, people embody these perceptions, actually becoming more capable of physical endurance.' Gray’s findings run counter to the notion that only those blessed with heightened willpower or self-control are capable of heroism, suggesting instead that simply attempting heroic deeds can confer personal power."

9 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Playing your alignment? by Pojut · · Score: 5, Funny

    What if you are Neutral Neutral...would you just collapse in a heap of jello?

    --
    Living With a Nerd
    1. Re:Playing your alignment? by commodore64_love · · Score: 4, Informative

      Sadly you are correct. The men who TAKE are the ones who get sex and marriage (and maybe even some adultery on the side). Us nice guys finish last because women find us "weak" non-confident and unattractive.

      No I'm not bitter. Why do you ask?

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    2. Re:Playing your alignment? by jahudabudy · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I've read before (and found it to be true in subsequent observation) that part of the reason assholes get the girl and nice guys don't is that a lot of "nice guys" have the idea that projecting sexual desire/sexual desirability is "not nice". Probably b/c the methods most young men use to project sexual confidence and desire ARE rude, boorish and assholish. So the nice guy equates sexual aggressiveness with the undesirable methods of expressing this he sees in his peers when he is first developing, and basically emasculates himself in order to be non-threatening (an "asshole" as he sees it). They put themselves out there as a sexual non-entity, so are seen that way by women. Assholes don't care about being non-threatening; they want what they want and don't bother to hide it. So the asshole makes a woman feel desirable, the nice guy makes her feel comfortable.

      --
      ...sometimes, in order to hurt someone very badly, you have to tell that person terrible lies. - PA
  2. In related news... by Kral_Blbec · · Score: 5, Funny

    science discovers adrenaline. Story at 5

  3. Old as dirt. by cyphercell · · Score: 4, Informative

    "The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy."

      Sun Tzu

    --
    Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
  4. Oh, Great by StefanJ · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now the Olympics are going to look like a convention of superheroes and supervillains, with each athlete alignment-doping him or herself with more and more outrageous costumes, posturing, and pre-event monologues.

    "Sure, he hurled the discus five miles, but did he really have to soak it in the blood of five virgins and dedicate his performance to All-Mighty Set?"

    1. Re:Oh, Great by sorak · · Score: 5, Funny

      So the Olympics will turn into pro-wrestling?

  5. Chaotic Neutral? by ctchristmas · · Score: 4, Funny

    So switching my lvl 7 dark elf warrior from chaotic neutral to evil gives a str bonus?

  6. Ah, the science of misinterpretation by Layth · · Score: 4, Insightful

    IMHO they missed the mark on this one.
    It's not about good or evil, it's about catering to the ego's sense of importance.

    Speaking from personal experience, if I am going out of my way to commit a personal sacrifice in the name goodness, then my sense of importance becomes expanded for the duration of the act.
    For example, if you're running a marathon for a charity you believe in. Suddenly, you may find the wordly measurements of your physical endurance to be exhibiting increased levels.

    Are you a super human? No.
    You're just willing to grit your teeth and take a little more pain. Because it's *important* and what you're doing is *important* and the ego just eats it up.