Psychologists Found Out That Nagging Doesn’t Work. (Duh!)



Psychologist Tanya Chartrand of Duke University conducted the study of why nagging doesn’t work. She started the study because she couldn’t get her own husband to do what she wanted him to do:

Be careful what you ask, because you may get just the opposite. New research shows that if a parent nags a son about cleaning up his room, the kid will probably dig in his heels and live in a pig pen even if he doesn’t realize mom is still on his case.

The same holds true for a spouse. Or some other significant other. And the more controlling that person seems to be, the more likely the individual will "automatically do the opposite of that which the significant other wishes," the scientists report in the current issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

Link - via Blue’s News


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Posted on March 13, 2007 at 10:37 pm by Alex
Category: Science & Tech

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4 comments to "Psychologists Found Out That Nagging Doesn’t Work. (Duh!)"

  • Aramax
    March 14th, 2007 at 2:32 am

    Everytime someone will have some argument with me and say the complete opposite of what I say I will show him/her this article and say:

    You are my significant other.

    =D

    Im going to win every debate from now on.

  • James Bain
    March 14th, 2007 at 11:05 am

    Hm. I’m a fan of reverse psychology, perhaps BECAUSE of early experiences with nagging(which, as one wag put it, is “the repetition of unpalatable truths”). For example, encouraging a child to “go ahead, stick your finger in that light socket”, or, “don’t just smoke one cigarette, I’ve heard that five or six at one time is better” are samples of behavior modification I’ve heard used, which smart kids caught on to as being just a tad too enthusiastic or found out the hard way that following the herd might not be a sensible path, after all.

  • Jason
    March 14th, 2007 at 12:39 pm

    Dr. Chartrand announced that her next study will attempt to identify a link between the fifty pounds she’s gained since marriage to the reduction in amorous advances by her husband.

  • koko
    March 14th, 2007 at 2:56 pm

    @Jason - hilarious.

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