Handling Money Brings Pain Relief

Psychologists at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management have found that handling money can alleviate both physical and emotional pain. In one experiment, test subjects were found to feel less pain when their hands were dipped into scalding water after counting money. Lead author Kathleen Vohs said, "When people are reminded of money in a subtle manner by counting out hard currency, they experience painful situations as being not very painful. You could think about being able to charge yourself up before you encounter pain. When I used to run marathons, I would've maybe wanted to be reminded of money first."

Re:Cocaine

[c++0xFF]

Citation:

http://www.snopes.com/business/money/cocaine.asp [snopes.com]

The percentage is probably lower than 90% (33% to 50% in one study, 75% in another, 80% in a fourth, and a staggering 97% in a fifth).

Re:Cocaine

[Daxx22]

Well I posted this as a joke, as I think that while you can find cocaine/drug residue on a large percentage of money in circulation, the actual amount is so low there is no way it could have an actual effect. Kinda like smoking Hemp to get high. You'd die of smoke inhalation before you even got a buzz.

Cocaine is not that powerful of a drug

[spun]

It is not readily absorbed through the skin, which is why it was only used as a topical anesthetic of the mucus membranes such as the mouth, eyes, and ears. It is also not powerful enough that the trace amounts in money could have any effect.

Re:I think it's obvious

[phlegmofdiscontent]

Actually, I highly doubt the study group was made up of MBA students. MBA students are busy studying and going to class and probably already have money (I should know, I'm one of them). The study group was probably broke-ass art students who have nothing better to do with their time and desperately need the $20 that are usually offered to take place in studies.

Re:I tried this experiment

[b4dc0d3r]

If someone said they were doing an experiment and handed me wads of cash, I would have one of two conclusions. Either I'm going to hand that money back at some point, or I'm going to rob the guy and take it. It would not make sense for someone to do an experiment where you end up with piles of cash, although it has happened. But it has been so rare that you would consider it an anomaly.

Of course you could read the article where it was explained as a finger dexterity exercise, so no it is not possible.

Among other experiments, she and colleagues challenged college students to a supposed finger-dexterity task in which they counted out either 80 $100 bills or 80 slips of paper. Afterward, the cash-counters reported less pain than the paper-counters when their fingers were dipped briefly into 122-degree Fahrenheit water.

Next time you want me to read something for you, please make an appointment.