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social influence
You are more honest when you feel observed by eyes.
A simple image of eyes displayed in a room increases prosocial behavior and honesty in participants.
In a 2006 field experiment, researchers placed a poster of human eyes above an office honesty box. Contributions increased significantly because the brain is hardwired to respond to social monitoring, even when that monitoring is non-human.
You behave as if you are watched, even in private.
Where this comes from
- Study
- Bateson et al., 2006, Biology Letters
- What the check found
- The cited paper (Bateson, Nettle, & Roberts, 2006) exists and supports the claim. The Gregory Bateson in the provided context is an unrelated historical figure.
- Confidence
- Well replicated
Related
One of these every day, and every one names the study it came from. When a finding is contested, it says so.