Selling environmentalism to neighbors, selling SUVs to carbon burners, selling yourself to an interviewer.
By
PT Staff, published on January 01, 2008 - last reviewed on March 20, 2008
Sweet Deal
The next time you feel a sugar craving coming on, you may want to satisfy your sweet tooth with honey instead. Experiments show that rats given honey in their diets have improved memory and less anxiety. Researchers believe the effects may result from the antioxidants present in honey.
Peer Pressure
Appeals to conscience or pocketbook don't turn people green as well as social pressure does. Presented with reasons like saving the Earth, being a good citizen, and saving money, homeowners—though they won't admit it—cut energy usage only when they think their neighbors are already doing it.
Workplace Warrior
People with high self-esteem make a lot of money and score prestigious jobs—but income and occupational prestige (doctor or garbage collector?) have no effect on self-esteem over the long term, according to a study.
41%
Forty-one Percent of Americans say children are important for a healthy marriage in 2008. 65% said so in 1990.
Say You're Sorry
If your potential boss reveals during a job interview that he's got dirt on you, don't bite your tongue. A study finds that reticence is the worst way to go; you're most likely to be hired if you respond to charges of incompetence with an apology and to charges of an integrity violation with a denial.
That's Not Funny
A blonde walks into a bar—Men rate sexist jokes as funnier when they're not given time to think about them, suggesting that they suppress their initial reaction due to social mores. (Time constraints don't alter their ratings of nonsexist jokes, no matter how dumb.) So when in polite company, think before you laugh.
What a Mouthful
Just the name of Chevy's SUV sounds huge: "Suburban." Maybe their marketers knew that people prefer brand names with front-of-the-mouth vowel sounds (like the 'i' in mill) for sharp, fast, and small products like knives and convertibles and back-of-the-mouth vowel sounds (the 'a' in mall) for dull, slow, and big products like SUVs and hammers.
