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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."

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

    So the Olympics will turn into pro-wrestling?