Two articles of note this morning about our favourite topic: ourselves!

In Study: Familiarity Can Muddle Communication, scientists found that because people who are close and familiar have so much history together and accumulated knowledge, they use "short, ambiguous messages" to communicate and this "vague and jargon-loaded talk" often leads to misunderstandings.

I haven't quite come across this in my experience, the misunderstanding part, although I believe because of the closeness, people are more willing to overlook the misunderstandings. On the jargon-loaded talk, I can totally relate. My brother and I have weird noises (they sound like hoots) we make to each other, which friends have found quite hilarious. But that's how we express hilarity. :)

In The Rich See What They Believe, people see what they believe, not what is actual. The psychological study suggests that this, particularly for the rich, keeps moral outrage at bay which is a bad, because it inhibits change.

Research has shown that people become emotionally distressed when confronted with inequality. The privileged minority is particularly affected, and they are likely to have a nagging worry that their cash and prizes are undeserved.

To keep a clean conscience and legitimize privilege, individuals often alter their perceptions of the status quo.

It does explains why inequality is still so prevalent in our world today.

Food for thought.

Technorati: science, communication, psychology