“There are so many ways that you can cut the data and torture the data until it confesses and gives the result that you want.” -Alex Edmans
BRAIN WAVES
Rude dude. Rudeness is usually frowned upon. It hurts feelings, harms relationships, and it’s, well, unkind. But there’s an even more insidious problem with rude behavior – it can hurt job performance. In a series of experiments, researchers analyzed the effect of rudeness on team behavior. In one experiment, they recruited doctors and nurses who care for newborns in intensive care. The researchers then introduced them to a visiting physician who was either rude or cordial. Next, they had the medical teams tend to an emergency situation: an “infant” (which was actually a medical doll) with a potentially fatal condition. In other words, the stakes were high. In the rude condition, the visiting doctor said things like, “I can’t say I’m impressed with the quality of medicine here.” The team members in this condition communicated less with each other than the team in the control condition, which suggests that rudeness has an indirect effect on team performance. In an emergency situation, you’d probably want the medical staff talking to each other, right? “An accumulated body of research now shows the dangers of uncivil work settings,” the researchers conclude. For more, listen to our episode on the effects of incivility.
Talk to me. A working paper suggests that AI companions can reduce feelings of loneliness. For the study, researchers combed through real chatbot conversations on the platform Cleverbot. They also looked at consumer reviews of other apps, like Replika and ChatGPT. They looked for conversations that included references to loneliness and then looked at how those conversations were resolved. In both the conversations and the reviews, they kept an eye out for phrases like “I feel heard,” which suggests that the users felt less lonely after the conversation. The results? "AI companions successfully alleviate loneliness on par only with interacting with another person, and more than other activities such [as] watching YouTube videos,” the researchers reported. “Moreover, consumers underestimate the degree to which AI companions improve their loneliness.”
All by myself. We’re always told to reach for that next ring, work that third job, go to that boisterous party after a long day at work. You only live once … right? But there is also a case to be made for solitude. What happens when we seek a quieter, more reflective interior life? Listen to learn more.
ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN PODCAST
Where Truth Lies: When we think about misinformation, we often focus on blatant errors or deliberate attempts to deceive us. But in recent years, social scientists have found that misinformation comes in many flavors — many of which are far more subtle than obvious falsehoods. These forms of misinformation prey on our mental blind spots, and take advantage of our passions and loyalties. This week, economist Alex Edmans explores the many insidious forms of misinformation, and how we can all get better at separating fact from fiction.
ON THE MY UNSUNG HERO PODCAST
Julia Weber’s Story: As the earth shook beneath Julia's feet during an earthquake, a stranger offered her comfort.
Don’t forget to send us the story of your unsung hero! Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.
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MIND GAMES
Ask this question all day long, but always get completely different answers, and yet all the answers will be correct. What is the question?
LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
A man got into a ship and could see more than four continents at the same time. How is this possible?
Answer: A spaceship
A MOMENT OF JOY
Maybe multitasking isn’t all bad.
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