5 Scientific Facts About Spite That Are Sure to Surprise You

Did you know that the phrase “you’d cut off your nose to spite your face’ actually comes from a real incident? Back in medieval times, a nun cut off her nose (and lips) to try and make herself too horrific for Viking invaders to rape. The other nuns followed suit, and the painful plan worked – sort of. While they weren’t raped, they were eventually burned alive.

Okay, so that’s an extreme scenario, but what else do we know about spite? It’s defined as action deliberately designed to hurt someone, even when there’s nothing to gain and even though those actions might cause you to suffer as well. Sounds like a pretty terrible way to be, right?

Here are five more facts about spite and why it’s an aspect of human behavior.

#5. Science notes two specific types of spite.

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Hamiltonian spite — named for biologist W.D. Hamilton — are actions directed against unrelated or loosely related individuals. Meanwhile, Wilsonian spite — named for biologist E.O. Wilson — is when your act of spite indirectly benefits someone you’re closely related to.

The latter might seem like the lesser of two evils, but really, they’re both based in bad behavior.

#4. Men tend to be more spiteful than women.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

The same study found that men showed higher levels of spite than women, but the results weren’t clear as to why. However, the press release speculates that men tend to score higher across the board when it comes to traits that predict psychopathy in general, so there’s that to consider.

#3. It could be a sign of psychopathy.

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One of the traits of a psychopath is Machiavellianism, which is the willingness to be duplicitous and disregard morality to achieve one’s own goals. In 2014, researchers at Washington State University subjected more than 1200 people to a personality test, and the results showed that high scores in spitefulness correlated with the presence of psychopathic behavior.

#2. It’s not that different from altruism.

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Some researchers call spite the “neglected ugly sister of altruism,” since both practices come at the cost of a person’s own happiness. The spite-r doesn’t necessarily care what happens to them because they’re not acting for personal gain and they’re not deterred by the prospect of personal loss.

This 2006 paper notes, “any social trait that is spiteful simultaneously qualifies as altruistic. In other words, any trait that reduces the fitness of less-related individuals necessarily increases that of related ones.”

#1. Children and the elderly are generally less spiteful.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Kids resent unfairness from an early age, researchers pointed out. “So, if they divide up candy and they get more candy than the kids they’re playing against, they’re like ‘nope, neither of us is going to get anything.’”

A malicious or spiteful reaction isn’t natural to children — everyone wins or no one does — and the elderly tend to revert to the same code of ethics.

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September 18, 2018

Why It Seems Impossible to Only Buy One Item at Target, According to an Expert

If you shop at Target then you are well familiar with the experience of stopping by to pick up one or two things, only to make it to the checkout with a cart full of items. What did I need these dumbbells and spray cheese for? Who knows…but they were on sale!

Photo Credit: Flickr,Mike Mozart

Now, the experts interviewed by Refinery29 – including Tom Meyvis, a New York University marketing professor – are backing us up with some science.

According to Meyvis, the Target juju starts with the enticing layout.

“Stores have an idea about the path shoppers take. Walmart was once famous for doing things like putting Band-Aids next to fishing hooks and things like that. Something you don’t naturally associate, but once you see them there, it makes sense. So when people come in for something in one category, you can cross-sell, you can sell them something that compliments in the next product category by making sure they’re right next to each other.”

Photo Credit: Instagram,queenrebecca101

Basically, Target designs their stores to help you find – and buy – what you didn’t realize you actually needed when you came into the store. Or something. A fact that seems to be confirmed by Refinery29’s interview with Target’s VP of Store Design, Joe Perdew.

“We know that some guests want to grab a coffee at Starbucks and explore the aisles, so we’ve added features like dynamic product vignettes throughout the store that help guests envision how things will fit into their lives. …in Home, products are cross-merchandised and displayed in lifestyle settings, so guests can imagine what they’ll look like in their own homes.”

It’s the reason you don’t see just a chair. You see a chair with a cute throw pillow sitting next to an end table with a picture frame and a lamp that complements everything else perfectly.

The bottom line, though, is that the layout, design, and colors at Target are inviting – they make us happy, which makes us want to stay, and the longer we stay, the more things go into our cart. At least, that’s what Kentucky psychologist Dr. Kevin Chapman says.

“It’s really well lit at Target, right? There’s a lot of color at Target. It’s pretty consistent throughout the store and generally that’s going to make people feel happier.”

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

No one loves forking over their cash, but the experts seem to agree that all of the store’s design and marketing makes it hard for us to resist doing just that, and to feel good while we do it. I’m not sure whether that’s supposed to make me feel better or worse, but one thing’s for sure – heading to Target seems to be a recipe for a happy day.

At least, until you get your bank statement.

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September 18, 2018

You’ve Probably Never Heard About These 10 Cultural Practices from Around the World

Our world is full of different belief systems and cultural norms that might seem strange at first to an outsider looking in. But once you take the time to learn about how these practices came about and how they’re influenced by a unique culture, it’s easier to understand how truly cool our differences can be.

These 10 practices might sound strange at first glance, but trust me – they’re more fascinating and beautiful than anything.

#10. If you live in China, a metro might go right through your apartment building.

Photo Credit: East News

And you thought living near the train tracks was a bad thing – this metro station in Chongqing is located inside a residential building and trains pass through the sixth floor. The solution has also been used in crowded spots in Japan, and residents are typically not too thrilled about the feat of architecture.

#9. Driving is a whole different experience in Egypt.

Photo Credit: East News

Even though they have the same traffic laws as the rest of the world, the fact that they’re not enforced leads to people doing pretty much whatever they want on the roads. It’s definitely somewhere you’re going to want to keep your eyes peeled if you pull out onto the road.

#8. Filipino fast food restaurants sell giant portions.

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Not because they like to stuff themselves with fries, Americans – it’s because many Filipinos share lunch with friends, a tradition called barkada, so the large portions essentially amount to “family style.”

#7. Indonesian people eat off banana leaves instead of plates.

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They gather together in a botram, a term that means “eating together,” a tradition that unites people regardless of their origins They share banana leaf plates and everyone eats with their hands.

#6. Whole families in Pakistan ride on a single motorcycle.

Photo Credit: Instagram,rolinapretorius

This definitely seems different for people in America, who deal with complicated and extended laws for securing children on the roadways, but in Pakistan, it’s not uncommon to see an entire family riding on one motorcycle. It’s not because they believe it’s safe or comfortable, but simply a necessity.

#5. The cult of Kumari in Nepal is made up of little girls.

Photo Credit: East News

Move over, Dalai Lama – and Cinderella, for that matter – little girls in Nepal dream of representing the Hindu goddess Taleju on earth. It’s said that she possesses the bodies of little girls, and her cult searches living children for the embodiment of Kumari.

There are more than one, but the Royal Kumari lives in Kathmandu and is selected after passing several strict rituals. She then settles into the palace and receives gifts, visitors, and blessings.

#4. Indian women born under a strong Mars influence might have wedded a tree.

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In Vedic astrology, it is believed that people born under a strong influence of Mars will not have happy marriages. They are called “manglik,” and are encouraged to meet and date each other, in order to neutralize the strong negative influences.

The situation is made harder for women because Indian people believe they can worsen the health of their husband. So, in order to try to make herself more attractive for marriage, tradition encourages manglik women to first “marry” a tree so that the curse can be left with it and not carried into a marriage with a man.

After the ceremony, the tree is cut and burned.

#3. Jewish people build temporary tent dwellings and live in them during Sukkot celebrations.

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

The tents are called sukkah’s, and the most important aspect is that they be open to the sky so that Jews can contemplate the wanderings of their ancestors in the Sinai desert. Building and using the tent – in a backyard or on a balcony – is considered a sacred duty and the faithful spend as much time there as possible during the week of Sukkot celebrations.

#2. People in Great Britain need a license for each television set they have at home.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

BBC is public television and therefore funded by licensing fees. Every citizen who owns a television or other device they use to watch live broadcasts are subject to a separate fee. If you claim to not need or want a license, you have to explain your reasons for not watching television or be slapped with a hefty fine.

#1. Newborn babies in South Korea are considered to be 1 year old.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

There is no year zero, essentially. Things can get even more complicated if a family uses the Lunar New Year to mark age as well – a child born toward the end of a lunar year could turn two before they see month outside their mother’s womb.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Always a disappointment.

#1. I may never eat an egg again.

Photo Credit: Reddit

The white part. *gag*

h/t: Buzzfeed

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September 18, 2018

10+ Posts That Prove Parrots Are Devious Little Devils

Parrots are the class clowns of the animal kingdom. When they make an appearance in movies or TV, they’ll often say something funny and/or inappropriate at exactly the right moment, winning laughs for itself and its poor, hapless human victim at the same time.

But parrots don’t just have comedic prowess — they’re also bird brainiacs. According to a study on African grey parrots, some birds can engage in simple conversation and learn up to 2,000 different words.

So when they do something funny, they might have done it on purpose, rather than simply coincidentally.

If you have yet to encounter a parrot in your lifetime, well, let these 11 people prove to you why you’ve really been missing out.

#11. Loki lives up to his name.

Image Credit: Facebook

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September 18, 2018

These 17 Fruits Look Totally Creepy When Peeled

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September 17, 2018

Top Beer Producer to Eliminate Plastic Rings and Glue Its Six-Packs Together

It’s no secret that the plastic rings that hold our beloved six-packs together are horrible for the environment. They end up in oceans and animals become caught in them and starve to death. I’ve even seen photos of turtles who got stuck in them and the plastic totally changed their shapes. Overall, it’s an environmental disaster. And you know that quite a few people aren’t taking the time to cut up the rings before putting them in the trash.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

But there’s good news from a top beer producer. Carlsberg, based in Denmark, has taken a bold step forward and come up with a glued six-pack design called the Snap Pack. This allows the six-packs to stay together without any extra plastic by using dots of glue.

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The glue is strong enough to keep the cans together during transport but can be pulled apart easily. It took three years to perfect the design. Carlsberg estimates that their new measure will reduce their use of plastic by 75% and will save over 1,300 tons of plastic each year. The Snap Packs will debut in the UK in September 2018 before they spread out to the rest of the world. Let’s hope other companies follow Carlberg’s lead.

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September 17, 2018

Here Are 20 New Words Merriam-Webster Is Adding to the Dictionary This Year

Our language is constantly evolving. Many of the new words that get introduced into the Merriam-Webster dictionary come to us from the online world. And boy oh boy, are there a whole lotta slang terms.

Here are 20 new words that the Merriam-Webster dictionary is adding to the big book in 2018.

1. BOUGIE (ADJ.)

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Short for bourgeois, this term means “Marked by a concern for wealth, possessions, and respectability.”

2. FINTECH (N.)

“Products and companies that employ newly developed digital and online technologies in the banking and financial services industries.”

3. BINGEABLE (ADJ.)

“Having multiple episodes or parts that can be watched in rapid succession.”

4. HAPTICS (N.)

“The use of electronically or mechanically generated movement that a user experiences through the sense of touch as part of an interface (such as on a gaming console or smartphone).”

5. FORCE QUIT (V.)

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“To force (an unresponsive computer program) to shut down (as by using a series of preset keystrokes).”

6. AIRPLANE MODE (N.)

“An operating mode for an electronic device (such as a mobile phone) in which the device does not connect to wireless networks and cannot send or receive communications (such as calls or text messages) or access the Internet but remains usable for other functions.”

7. INSTAGRAM (V.)

“To post (a picture) to the Instagram photo-sharing service.”

8. BIOHACKING (N.)

“Biological experimentation (as by gene editing or the use of drugs or implants) done to improve the qualities or capabilities of living organisms especially by individuals and groups outside of a traditional medical or scientific research environment.”

9. TL;DR (ABBREV.)

“Too long; didn’t read—used to say that something would require too much time to read.”

10. MARG (N.)

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

A margarita. According to Merriam-Webster, the first known usage occurred in 1990.

11. FAVE (N.)

Favorite. This word is older than it looks: It dates back to 1938. (“Lester Harding, heavy fave here, clicks with pop songs,” was the first usage, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.)

12. HANGRY (ADJ.)

“Irritable or angry because of hunger.” People have been hangry (or at least using the word) since 1956.

13. RANDO (N.)

According to Merriam-Webster, this “often disparaging” slang means “A random person: a person who is not known or recognizable or whose appearance (as in a conversation or narrative) seems unprompted or unwelcome.”

14. GOCHUJANG (N.)

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

A spicy paste used in Korean cuisine that is made from red chili peppers, glutinous rice, and fermented soybeans.

HOPHEAD (N.)

Originally a slang word for a drug addict dating back
to 1883, this word these days means “A beer enthusiast.”

16. ZOODLE (N.)

“A long, thin strip of zucchini that resembles a string or narrow ribbon of pasta.”

17. ADORBS

“Extremely charming or appealing: adorable.”

18. GENERATION Z (N.)

Photo Credit: Unsplash,Jenna Anderson

The generation of people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

19. TENT CITY (N.)

“A collection of many tents set up in an area to provide usually temporary shelter (as for displaced or homeless people).”

20. MOCKTAIL (N.)

“A usually iced drink made with any of various ingredients (such as juice, herbs, and soda water) but without alcohol: a nonalcoholic cocktail.”

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September 17, 2018

You’ll Love These 15 Outdated Celebrity Headshots

Image Credit: Twitter

#1. And finally, Joseph Gordon-Levitt throwing down the cutest kid gauntlet next to Ben Stiller.

Image Credit: Twitter

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September 17, 2018

Can You Believe A Typo Helped End World War II?

As World War II tore its way through Europe, the British had to get the best and brightest minds involved in the war effort if they and their Allies were to be victorious. Enter Geoffrey Tandy…a man who was a bit taken aback when he was summoned by the Ministry of Defence in 1939.

Tandy was a volunteer in the Royal Navy Reserves, but his regular job was as a cryptogamist for the National History Museum. Cryptomgamists study algae and Tandy wasn’t sure where he fit in with the war effort. Tandy then guessed that the Ministry had made a mistake and confused his job with a cryptogramist—a codebreaker. Tandy was pretty much useless to the Ministry and didn’t do much for two years until something miraculous happened in 1941.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

That year, the Allies torpedoed and sank German U-boats. Among the wreckage was detailed instructions about how to unscramble messages for the German Enigma Machine.

Photo Credit: iStock

There was one problem: the papers with the instructions were waterlogged and needed to be restored in able to be deciphered and put to use. The Ministry needed a person who was proficient at drying out damaged materials that were waterlogged. Tandy had been trained in preserving algae in that manner and his two years of relative quiet were about to come to an end.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Tandy used absorbent materials to dry out the papers until they were able to be read. The information was used to crack German codes and Allied forces got inside information about their opponent’s war strategies. It’s estimated that the cracked codes caused the war to end earlier than it might have otherwise, and likely saved millions of lives. It’s uncertain how exactly Tandy ended up at his post, if it was a typo or someone misread the spelling of his position. Either way, the misunderstanding turned out to be a godsend for the Allied forces.

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