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| CNN: Study reveals 'Robin Hood impulse' |
| 2007-04-12 |
| This kind of study was mentioned here just the other day and someone wanted a link. I stumbled across this. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Robin Hood lives! People taking part in a game designed to explore egalitarian impulses in human nature consistently robbed from players assigned the most money while giving money to those with the least, scientists said Wednesday. James Fowler, a University of California at San Diego political scientist, and his fellow researchers detected what they saw as a "Robin Hood impulse" in people who took part in the experiment, described in the journal Nature. "That's the classic story we all know, where someone's taking from the rich and giving to the poor, which is exactly what we're seeing in this experiment," Fowler said in a reference to the medieval English folk legend. "In essence, what we found is that our taste for equality is one of the important reasons why we cooperate with each other, much more so than, say, other species of primates," Fowler said in a telephone interview. The experiment was carried out last year using 120 paid student volunteers at a computer lab on the campus of the University of California at Davis. The volunteers sat at computer terminals, and a computer would assign them into groups of four. Once placed into a group, each person was assigned an amount of money and was told how much money the other three members were given. The players then had the chance to spend some of their own money in order to increase or decrease the amount the others possessed, but their actions provided no financial gain for themselves. They played the game five times, but never with anyone from a previous group. This was to eliminate the possibility of players trying to establish a reputation for themselves or taking revenge on others who might have taken money from them. Equalizing income About 70 percent of participants at some point reduced or added to another person's money, most often by taking from the richest players or by donating to the poorest players, the study found. These actions had the collective effect of equalizing income among the players -- with participants spending their own money to achieve the goal. The researchers said even players whose own loot had been pilfered in previous rounds were willing to take steps to redistribute the money in an egalitarian manner. Fowler acknowledged the experiment might yield different results if conducted in another country or somewhere other than a U.S. college campus, but suggested a certain universal egalitarian yearning might be seen. "I think in general we would find a preference for equality, but there may be significant variations between societies. And so it's certainly a possibility that our desire for equality is in part shaped by our upbringing," Fowler said. |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #16 This is really old research. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2007-04-12 22:11 |
| #15 ExJag. Do yourself a favor and do what I did to get my self-centered, selfish family members out of my head. I just stopped caring about what they think or do. I made the decision because I was so sick of dealing with them that I didn't want to see them anymore. But since that was too harsh for me to deal with, I just made up my mind that their stupid opinions and ridiculous actions were dead to me. lol! So to speak. They are not dead to me, just their opinions and actions are. Trust me, it is so powerful and liberating you won't believe it. My relationship has improved with them dramatically as they have no power over me now. The power is all mine! bwahaaahhaaaaaa!! Everytime they go off about Global warming, George Bush or whatever else is the liberal cause of the moment, I just say, "Ya, whew, global warming is bad." For all their anti-war snide remarks I just say nothing or dismiss it with an "if you say so". When you find yourself tempted to snap at bait, just throw out a meaningless phrase of non-disagreement and walk off as if you suddenly remembered you have something more interesting to do. Pretending to fall asleep in the middle of their conversation or rant always works in a pinch. Give them that eye flutter with half-open mouth look and apologize for being so I love my new found power. When they are being fun, I can enjoy their company and when they are not, I throw them a bone or a trinket for them to chase after to keep them from bothering me. That way, they don't have to be dead to me all of the time - just when I don't like them. As for your Dad - make him see you on your terms. If he walks in with his slutty girlfriend and you don't feel like putting up with it, pretend to have an appointment and leave. Don't give him the satisfaction of being mad at him - that means you still care. Just don't care anymore - only tolerate him when it suits your fancy. For me, it was a whole new way of looking at things. |
| Posted by: Angaiger Tojo1904 2007-04-12 20:35 |
| #14 It will take a while for the internal confusion to abate, but believe me, the peace of mind that finally manifests from no longer enduring exposure to abusive and malign treatment is simply priceless. I wish you every happiness, exJAG. Stay strong and learn to love yourself for the pure joy of living life on your own terms. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-04-12 20:35 |
| #13 Zen: done, done, and done. I ask because I currently have an opening to separate this fool from his money. It isn't nearly enough to make it worth the effort. Thank you all for confirming my instincts. Rantburg U: where all questions are answered! |
| Posted by: exJAG 2007-04-12 20:13 |
| #12 ExJag, I can tell you what I did. My mother shat on her family once too. She lives less than 5 minutes from me. I haven't spoken to her in 10 years. Tell him to go play hide and go fuck himself. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2007-04-12 20:12 |
| #11 exJAG, do what I did over ten years ago. Give him one last chance to admit the error of his ways and then, barring a positive response, tell him he will never hear your voice again for so long as he lives. Permanently cut off all verbal and written communication, drop your last name so that his family name will not be continued and vow that he will never for a single instant hold any of your children on his knee. Then stick to your promise. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-04-12 20:04 |
| #10 LOL, thanks for giving the same answer to that hypothetical as I did. tu, yes, our hypothetical shitbag loves Errol Flynn, but pictures himself more as Otter (from Animal House). Let's also say the hypothetical offspring did tell him to fuck off, forcefully and repeatedly, yet he still doesn't get the message. So, Shipman, said offspring remains the sole beneficiary of that hypothetical Atlas F silo and whatever else is left. LOL. Downside is, "Otter" is in top physical condition (from the neck down, that is). Upside is, he enjoys dangling into his 280-foot hole from a used crane with a broken brake, and catting around on his psychotic, ugly, stupid girlfriend. There is a sawed-off shotgun and some kind of revolver on the premises. The Robin Hood scenario is tempting, but God's gonna take care of this one, isn't he. Hypothetically. :) |
| Posted by: exJAG 2007-04-12 19:37 |
| #9 Still exJag there is the final disposition of that AtlasF Silo to consider. ;> Make a hell of a Charter Skool. Here chillrens is where the 2 keys of freedom went |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-04-12 19:08 |
| #8 120 paid student volunteers at a computer lab on the campus of the University of California at Davis. Shouldn't that be "120 paid communists"? |
| Posted by: Anon4021 2007-04-12 18:21 |
| #7 That's a tough "hypothetical' exJAG. But I'll bet he thinks of himself as a "lovable rouge" right? Like Errol Flynn or Bill Clinton... Tell him to fuck off. He's never done you any good, he'll never do you any good. Hypothetically... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-04-12 16:40 |
| #6 Ex Jag, I'd do exactly what Dr. Laura would tell you to do. Have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with him. EVER. He has only used other people for his own purpose and would do the same to you. Hypothetically of course. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2007-04-12 16:34 |
| #5 Goodness, exJAG. He was a truly nasty piece of work! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-04-12 16:03 |
| #4 Alex, I'll take 200 on "Kings of England". |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-04-12 11:22 |
| #3 Well now, here's a Robin Hood hypothetical. Let's say your father pissed away his life as an indolent liberal drifter sponging off his rich daddy while waiting for him to die. And let's say he cheated on, bankrupted, and divorced your dutiful, hard-working, intelligent mother after 31 years of faithful marriage. He arranges it so as to leave her disabled and responsible for your elderly grandmother, and forced to continue working as he inherits and retires early. It was also his decision to give you no brothers or sisters who could help, and then turns the rest of the family against you when you point out to him that he is a rotten motherfucker. Now all he has left is an ugly, stupid girlfriend he cheats on as well, and that pile of money your mom did more to earn than he did. He misses you and wants you back. Hypothetically speaking, what would y'all do? |
| Posted by: exJAG 2007-04-12 09:29 |
| #2 Leveling is not the same thing as "a taste for equality". I cannot say I am surprised to learn there is a sour grapes gene. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-04-12 09:15 |
| #1 People taking part in a game designed to explore egalitarian impulses in human nature consistently robbed from players assigned the most money while giving money to those with the least, scientists said Wednesday. They're call Democrats. From each according to their means, to each according to their needs [regardless of personal effort applied to gaining skills or performing the labor or enterprenuial talent to acquire the money]. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-04-12 08:48 |