The Best Time To Make A Decision Is... When You Have To Pee Really Badly?
from the ah,-science dept
Via Notcot, we learn of some recent studies on decision making that suggest all sorts of things will distract you from making a good decision (sexual arousal, touch, sleep deprivation, etc.), but what will help you make a good decision? Apparently, having a really full bladder.A full bladder, apparently, helps us take more rational, long-term decisions. At least that was the finding of a study carried out by Mirjam Tuk, a professor at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. In an experiment, Tuk tested two sets of participants. The first was told to drink five cups of water; the second to take just five sips. After 40 minutes, they were tested on their decision-making abilities. Tuk says that the group who were, by now, crossing their legs, were better able to exercise self-control and hold out for larger rewards.Honestly, it sounds like the study's applicability may be limited, but just to be safe, I think my new corporate management philosophy is going to involve forcing everyone to drink a lot, but keeping the bathrooms locked up for "cleaning" most of the time... It's foolproof.
Filed Under: decision making