Touching money reduces effects of pain, study finds
“I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love.” – Paul McCartney, 1964
In a bid to derail any decency mankind still had left, a new study from the University of Minnesota apparently proves people are more materialistic than we’ve let on.
According to school researchers’ findings, handling money – literally, touching cash with your skin – reduces the effects of pain, both physical and emotional.
In a series of experiments, professors told Discovery.com, study participants reported feeling less pain having their hands dipped into scalding water when they were counting money.
Researchers had U of M students, under the premise they were participating in a finger-dexterity task, count out either 80 $100 bills or 80 slips of paper. Next, they had their hands dipped briefly into the hot water before being asked to relay how much pain the burning caused.
“When people are reminded of money in a subtle manner by counting out hard currency, they experience painful situations as being not very painful,” lead study author Kathleen Vohs said.
Similarly, while the experiments are too detailed to discuss here (scroll down to paragraph nine to read what went down), Vohs was able to conclude handling money can boost self-esteem, mood and other psychological measures.
“The study found that being reminded of money you don’t have makes pain worse,” writes Discovery’s Emily Sohn. “Reflecting on your shrunken (retirement fund), in other words, could make it more difficult to cope with stubbing a toe or failing to connect with others at a party.”
If this study’s findings sound like the most preposterous/secretly-accurate of the week, they’re not.
Australian researchers have concluded that kids – too young to even read – can already recognize logos for corporations like McDonald’s, Disney and Toyota.
So, next time you’re with some optimist claiming society, deep down, doesn’t care about money or material things, show them this. That should teach ‘em.
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: John Butler | Apr 15, 2021 4:23:50 PM
This is interesting. In Turkey, when a boy reaches the approriate age (10 - 12) he gets circumcised. In the rural areas anaesthetic isn't used. Instead, while the family and friends invited to the very special occasion thrust money, trinkets, and sweets at the boy, the "sunnetci" craftily grabs the excess skin and removes it with a quick flick of the wrist. The boy, so enamoured with the lavish gifts being bestowed upon him, will often exhibit little to no sign of pain. It is only after a few minutes, when the shock and awe of the money and gifts wears off, that the pain sets in.
Posted by: Raybo | Apr 15, 2021 6:02:49 PM
yes its called cocaine... its on all money
Posted by: malarkey | Apr 15, 2021 10:29:45 PM
it's called corporate brain-washing. something more of us should be wary of. the meaning of life is being twisted around.