Article: Research on unconscious will challanges free will

I read a study on body language a while back where they found that people are more honest when you ask them something and lightly touch their elbow. They left money in a phone booth and waited for someone to go into it and then notice and take the money. Then a student would approach the subject and ask if they saw the money he "lost" and only 20% of the people gave him the money back.
But when he approached them with a big smile and lightly touched them on the left forearm or elbow 60% of the subjects smiled back and gave him his money back.

Not sure if it disproves freewill but obviously our behavior and even morals may largely be the result of cause and effect.
 
Geriatrix said:
I read a study on body language a while back where they found that people are more honest when you ask them something and lightly touch their elbow. They left money in a phone booth and waited for someone to go into it and then notice and take the money. Then a student would approach the subject and ask if they saw the money he "lost" and only 20% of the people gave him the money back.
But when he approached them with a big smile and lightly touched them on the left forearm or elbow 60% of the subjects smiled back and gave him his money back.

Not sure if it disproves freewill but obviously our behavior and even morals may largely be the result of cause and effect.
Click to expand...

Touching someone on their elbow is not customary and evokes a reaction from the subconscious - this is similar to how hypnosis works and if the timing of the question is correct, their response will be more reactionary than thought out, meaning they will either be conscious that they may lie and will give the money back or will subconsciously respond honestly.

The same thing is done to hypnotise someone briefly and the link to Derren Brown is a good one - he uses this exact technique when walking down the street and asking people to hand over their wallet, cellphone and jewelery. They do so after he greets them in a very odd manner, then distracts them again using his finger which slowly moves in towards his face while he talks to them. They gladly hand over the belongings and then realise it a few seconds after he's made off with their stuff.

NLP also touches on a few of these lessons in human and social interaction and is very interesting stuff.

Jan, please start quoting the actual article you are posting. It's highly bloody annoying having to be directed elsewhere continually. Thanks...
 
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