Just Thinking About Science Triggers Moral Behavior

ananyo writes "The association between science and morality is so ingrained that merely thinking about it can trigger more moral behavior, according to a study by researchers at the University of California Santa Barbara. The researchers hypothesized that there is a deep-seated perception of science as a moral pursuit — its emphasis on truth-seeking, impartiality and rationality privileges collective well-being above all else. The researchers conducted four separate studies to test this. In the first, participants read a vignette of a date-rape and were asked to rate the 'wrongness' of the offense before answering a questionnaire measuring their belief in science. Those reporting greater belief in science condemned the act more harshly. In the other three, participants primed with science-related words were more altruistic."

Comments

Blowing stuff up

[Drethon]

Usually when I think of science I think of blowing stuff up...

Re:Political correlation

[Jmc23]

What if it is their fault? What if the science actually backs that up? Why do women wear high heels shoes when what it's communicating to the male is 'I'm lordosing and ready for sex'? Why do they reveal their breasts when they know the effect it has on males? Doesn't science know how easy it is to override the 'thinking/civilized' mind? Would you walk into an impoverished neighbourhood wearing money for clothes?

Re:Political correlation

[Jmc23]

Wow, bitter much? Take your agenda to someone who cares or is actually fighting for the opposite side. I just laid out some suppositions.

Regardless of your crazy-bitch tirade: Does it matter to your lungs what excuse you have for smoking? Regardless of what a woman's reasons for dressing like a slut are, if she's putting her body into a known biological trigger for copulation when she doesn't want to copulate she's just being ignorant and stupid. We might have dreams and ideals of what reality should be like but one shouldn't try living in those dreams and ignoring reality.

p.s. As an aside, most women cite the feeling of power it gives them. What's cosmically funny is that most women don't seem to realize that the source of the power is sexual, and then they get all upset. One day you and them will grow up and accept responsability for your actions.