Recently, researchers at UCLA conducted a fascinating little experiment regarding how people’s brainwaves register the experience of fairness. The researchers found that the reward circuitry of people’s brains activates in response to fairness in the same way it activates to eating chocolate or winning money. (Did someone say chocolate?) Alternatively, unfairness activates the disgust centers of our brains. Think smelly, rotten eggs. Ugh.
Humans seem to be hard-wired to respond positively to fairness. Who knew?
Understanding that we are biologically hard-wired to respond positively to fairness is a great additional motivator to trying to find solutions that everyone experiences fair. Fairness is not just a concept; it’s a body experience. Imagine how good everyone at work would feel if they were all eating chocolate and winning money! And imagine how much easier settlement negotiations would be if both sides experienced the agreement as pleasantly as a Hershey’s bar.
This is a nice little factoid to share with your co-workers, and to inform your day-to-day interactions with others. Shall we aim for more chocolate moments?
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