When You Smell Fish, You Think More Critically
Inhale deep, get suspiciousTomascastelazo via Wikimedia CommonsEven if you like fish, you’re probably wary of that fishy smell. Previous studies have shown that the smell of fish makes people more suspicious. But a new study, published this month in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, shows that this skepticism may have another implicit effect, providing a boost to people’s critical thinking skills.In the study, the researchers asked each participant to answer questions in one of two booths. Right before the participants arrived, the researchers spritzed one of the booths with fish oil (there’s a reason that scent never caught on with air fresheners). Once the questioning began, the researchers paid special attention to how participants answered one particular query: “How many animals of each kind did Moses take on the Ark?” Past studies have shown that, even if people know that Noah was the one to...