4 Studies About Human Behavior That Will Surprise You

You have probably heard – or come to this conclusion based on your own experience – that it is often difficult to understand other people, because sooner or later the behavior of people we seem to know well surprises and amazes us. However, this fully applies to ourselves.

Below you will see some examples of human behavior that we often do not even realize and do not imagine that we are capable of.

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1. Everyone has a dark side.

A Stanford University study in the 1970s showed that anyone is capable of committing evil acts. Researchers in the psychology department set up a mock prison in the basement of a campus building, then recruited 24 students – all psychologically healthy and with no criminal records – to take on the roles of guards and prisoners for two weeks.

The prisoners had to stay in their cells 24 hours a day, and the guards worked 8 hours a day. The goal of the experiment was to observe the participants' behavior using hidden cameras, but it had to be stopped after only 6 days.

According to Philip Zimbardo, the psychologist in charge of the experiment, the situation got completely out of control, and the students who took on the role of "jailers" gradually became more and more cruel and aggressive, subjecting the "prisoners" to terrible psychological and physical torture.

2. We are all in the clouds and don’t notice many things.

Do you think you are aware of everything that is happening around you? So, scientists conducted an experiment and proved that people do not notice what is happening right under their noses. Scientists asked actors to approach people and ask them some clarifying questions. At the moment when the actor was asking questions, and a random passerby was answering his questions, two more men with a door in their hands passed between the conversationalists and blocked their view for a few seconds.

It was in those few seconds that the actor was replaced by another person, who was wearing different clothes, had a different hairstyle, and a completely different voice, and, amazingly, half of the people who had just a few seconds earlier interacted with this actor did not even notice the change. The researchers explained that this happens because we are selective about what we need to remember and the situations where it is important to be vigilant.

3. Everyone likes fame and power

A curious study has shown that Oscar-winning actors and actresses live longer than those who were only nominated and never won any of these awards. According to scientists, everything points to the fact that fame and power not only benefit the ego, but also have a certain impact on longevity.

In addition to this, the researchers also explained that social approval as well as high self-esteem are important aspects that encourage people to take better care of themselves and their own health.

But, of course, there is always an exception to the rule.

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4. Since childhood, we have been instilled with a desire to win and competitiveness

An experiment conducted in the US in the 1950s showed that we strive to be accepted by the group we belong to and easily come into conflict with other groups. In the study, two teams of children were sent to a camp.

In the early days, the team members became friends and participated in activities together, unaware of the other team's existence. However, when the two groups were brought together, the members immediately began to treat each other as rivals, feuding with each other and competing during games.

The researchers later came up with a variety of fun activities to try to bring the two teams together, but the situation only defused when the two groups were given a problem to solve together.

What do you think about this? Which point surprised you?