RE: something odd about human behavior

[Mark Kunkel]

Hi, Jean.  Don't know where Stephen is, and I'm not him, but some examples I use in my Intro classes are:   the myth of "crack babies" (a good one because they have strong feelings about this issue, and because internet   searches readily reveal problems with this construct) Kissing behavior and various explanations (including the ethological one about the residue of dogs licking the face to encourage   regurgitation of the last meal...gets many of them where they live) helping behavior (small reinforcements like t-shirts work much better than larger ones like $20 for blood-giving...why?)   Numerous other examples (I sometimes try to tell one from each of the intro book chapter topics...)   The first day of class I usually tell the story from William Least Heat Moon's wonderful _Blue Highways_ book about the little boys dangling from the railroad trestle in pitch darkness, listening to the water rushing below and fearing for their lives, until someone comes along and shines the flashlight on the ground, a short distance below. Psychology can be a light shining on that over which we are dangling, so as to see it new and comforting (and sometimes new and distressing).   Hope that helps,   Mark Kunkel U West Georgia Carrollton, GA   -----Original Message----- From: J L Edwards [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 12:05 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences Subject: something odd about human behavior Hi again:   Please don't forget about my earlier request. I'd like to pose students with a question about human behavior; something commonplace but odd; something most of us do but we give little thought to; something they might answer one way, though research findings are the exact opposite.   I really thought Stephen would come through...where are you Stephen Black?   Jean Edwards [EMAIL PROTECTED] (please use this email until 8-13) --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]