Why Are We The Way We Are?

Are people born nice? In a study published in the journal Psychological Science

, 348 participants answered questions such as "Do people have a duty to pay taxes?", "Are people basically good or bad?" and "Do you engage in charitable activities?". Then their saliva was tested. The participants who had sensitive receptors to the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin - both associated with pair bonding - were likelier to do nice things. They were also more willing to be nice or aggressive on behalf of others. In the future the ability of scientists to read our DNA may make us all "open books".

Why do men go wild while watching sports? It's biology. While watching games two hormones - testosterone and cortisol - increase in sports fans. Scientists examined the saliva of 50 Spanish soccer fans as they watched the 2010 World Cup finals between Spain and the Netherlands. (Spain won 1-0). Although no male/female differences were seen in testosterone levels, the amount of cortisol was generally much higher in males - causing them to feel a strong threat to their own social esteem if their team lost. However, because saliva samples from older men contained less cortisol, it's expected increasing age gives men "a sporting chance" of sanity.

Why do teams in darker-colored jerseys get more penalties? A study by the University of Florida/Gainesville analyzed more than 50,000 NHL games. According to the study, teams wearing the darker jerseys were penalized about 2 minutes more per game. However, the reason isn't clear. Maybe dark jerseys allow referees to see fouls more easily. Maybe players wearing dark jerseys feel more aggressive. Maybe referees have unconscious biases against darker colors. An earlier study by Cornell University found a similar pattern of penalties among NFL teams wearing darker colors. Is it time for sports to come out of the "Dark Ages"?

What does your dog say about your personality? A study presented to the British Psychological Society used an online survey to examine the personalities of 1,000 dog owners. The owners of sporting dogs were more agreeable and conscientious. The owners of herding dogs were more extroverted and the owners of hound dogs were more emotionally stable. Toy dog owners were more agreeable, conscientious and open to new experiences; and non-sporting dog owners were more conscientious and extroverted. However, no personality traits stood out for owners of terriers and working dogs. Then, of course, maybe they were just "dog-tired".

by: Knight Pierce Hirst

POST COMMENT

Why Choose A Street Sweeper? Why Is It Important To Save On International Calls? The Great Shed Kits For Your Shed By Buyshedkit Gold: Banks Retrench Exhibit Regarding The Opulent Metal Amidst Misgivings Of Profit-taking Bid Adieu To Gasoline With 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas Reasons The Irs Might Use A Tax Levy Soak Up Some Sun At The Virginia Beach Cualidades De Un Buen Agente De Seguros Holiday Lodges In Cumbria Why Is Led Lighting Best For Your Enterprise? How Would You Like Your Eggs Mr Benedict? Understanding Lime, Mortars& Cement In Historic Masonry Restoration What Sipps Are