One of the interesting dimensions of the hidden brain is the way in which seemingly unrelated experiences are brought together in the unconscious mind. People who are given a warm drink to hold, for example, might be more likely to experience an interpersonal interaction as being warm, even though the cup of coffee has nothing to do with the interaction.
Here’s a puzzle I recently posted on The Hidden Brain’s Facebook page, which is where all puzzles get aired first:
invest
The correct answer is B.
I based this puzzle on some interesting research by Jonathan Levav and Jennifer J. Argo, who found that when a woman patted volunteers on the back, they were more likely to take bigger risks than if the woman merely spoke to them or if a man patted them on their back. When a woman shook the hands of volunteers it had a similar effect, but was not as strong as a reassuring pat.
The researchers speculate that the effect may be because of the associations people tend to have with a mother’s touch, and that the sense of reassurance this produces is what prompts people to take greater risks.
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You are considering a financial investment. You are likely to take a bigger risk if
A) A man lightly touches your shoulder before you invest
B) A woman lightly touches your shoulder before you invest
C) A man shakes your hand firmly before you invest
D) A woman shakes your hand firmly before yo…u invest
