At Newcastle University an honour system coffee station is set up. But, of course, not everyone is honour bound. This gave researchers there an idea for a study. They chose two different posters to hang on the wall by the station.
During one week, it was a picture of flowers; during the other, it was a pair of staring eyes. Then they sat back to watch what would happen.
A remarkable pattern emerged. During the weeks when the eyes poster stared down at the coffee station, coffee and tea drinkers contributed 2.76 times as much money as in the weeks when flowers graced the wall. Apparently, the mere feeling of being watched — even by eyes that were patently not real — was enough to encourage people to behave honestly.
Interesting stuff.
[tags]Physical Security, Surveillance, Psychology[/tags]
