"Dumb blondes" live up to stereotype
BERLIN (Reuters) - Blondes perform intelligence tests more slowly after reading jokes playing on their supposed stupidity, say psychologists in a newly published German study.
Some 80 women of various hair colours were tested on their mental capacity to work quickly and precisely in a series of psychometric tests. Before sitting the tests, half the participants had to read "dumb blonde" jokes, such as:
"Why do blondes open yoghurt pots while still at the supermarket? -- Because it says 'Open Here' on the lid."
"No blonde woman believes she is stupid," said Jens Foerster a social psychologist from the International University Bremen in northern Germany on Wednesday.
"But after exposure to negative social-stereotypes about them, the fair-haired participants performed significantly more slowly in the tests."
Foerster explained the result by saying that when people are told they can't perform a task well, they work more slowly but more cautiously, to try to make fewer mistakes.
"The study shows that even unfounded prejudices generally dismissed as untrue can affect an individual's confidence in their own ability," said Foerster.
Some 80 women of various hair colours were tested on their mental capacity to work quickly and precisely in a series of psychometric tests. Before sitting the tests, half the participants had to read "dumb blonde" jokes, such as:
"Why do blondes open yoghurt pots while still at the supermarket? -- Because it says 'Open Here' on the lid."
"No blonde woman believes she is stupid," said Jens Foerster a social psychologist from the International University Bremen in northern Germany on Wednesday.
"But after exposure to negative social-stereotypes about them, the fair-haired participants performed significantly more slowly in the tests."
Foerster explained the result by saying that when people are told they can't perform a task well, they work more slowly but more cautiously, to try to make fewer mistakes.
"The study shows that even unfounded prejudices generally dismissed as untrue can affect an individual's confidence in their own ability," said Foerster.
German burns down house trying to impress girlfriend
A lovestruck German has burned down his house after candles he lit for his girlfriend sparked a fire.
The unnamed man had laid out hundreds of candles in the shape of a heart carrying the words "You set my heart on fire."
The 18-year-old had hoped the gesture would have impressed his girlfriend. Instead the heat was so intense it melted the candle wax onto the floor where it ignited.
Ten firefighters tacked the resulting blaze for an hour before getting it under control. No one was hurt but emergency services said damage to the property came to about Ā£33,000.
The young man told police: "My girlfriend didn't even see the message, all I have left of it is a photograph - and she was not in the mood to look at that when she realised what had happened."
The unnamed man had laid out hundreds of candles in the shape of a heart carrying the words "You set my heart on fire."
The 18-year-old had hoped the gesture would have impressed his girlfriend. Instead the heat was so intense it melted the candle wax onto the floor where it ignited.
Ten firefighters tacked the resulting blaze for an hour before getting it under control. No one was hurt but emergency services said damage to the property came to about Ā£33,000.
The young man told police: "My girlfriend didn't even see the message, all I have left of it is a photograph - and she was not in the mood to look at that when she realised what had happened."
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