Episode #426
News Items
Who's That Noisy
- Answer to last week: Ayn Rand
Science or Fiction
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Item #1
Science
New research finds that hearing a salesperson flatter another customer causes a negative reaction to the salesperson but increases the desire to buy an expensive item. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130910104834.htm
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Item #2
Fiction
A new study finds that subjects were more likely to purchase a lottery ticket if they had just spent money on an expensive item. http://phys.org/news/2013-09-lottery-affect-consumers-self-control.html
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Item #3
Science
Researchers find that women are more likely to purchase expensive accessories when they feel threatened in their relationship, and that this strategy works because women are also less likely to pursue a man whose girlfriend has expensive accessories. http://www.sciencecodex.com/why_does_a_fancy_purse_say_stay_away_from_my_man-119058
Skeptical Quote of the Week.
“When he found that his long cherished beliefs did not agree with the most precise observations, he accepted the uncomfortable facts. He preferred the hard truth to his dearest delusions, that is the heart of science.” - Carl Sagan