When you get an ad with Hank Green in it before a video with Hank Green in it and you don't know whether to celebrate because Hank Green is awesome, or cry because Hank Green is overwhelmingly awesome.
Some things I've wondered about the watching eyes effect are 1. Does the size of the eyes matter? Do they need to be as big as or bigger than actual human eyes, or can they be tiny? 2. Does it matter whose eyes they are? Might a person having a picture of their family sitting on their desk watching them at work elicit the effect more strongly?
"Take a look at the wall that's closest to you" _looks at nearest wall_ "Now imagine there was a picture of a pair of eyes staring out at you" _nearest wall happens to have a calendar with a cat poster on it staring at me_ >_>
i have absolutely zero evidence to back this up, but i feel like photo eyes would be more effective, and that smiley vs serious would depend on the person.
I wonder, if there is a difference between what kind of eyes you see. How old the person is, what gender, color of skin, if it looks like the eyes are happy/sad, if it is a drawing, what kind of drawing/how realistic. so many questions.
Ok, I find nearly every SciShow video interesting and informative, but this is one of those "woah...really? that's cool". I expected the eyes to make you more generous part, but not the 'do what the social norm is' part. Super interesting video!
It is so wildly interesting to me the different explanations you get from people based on which field of Psychology that they frequent. An evolutionary psychologist would absolutely agree that the watching eyes effect is likely due to reciprocal altruism, and the need to build a good reputation to ensure an easy social environment. Whereas, a developmental psychologist might say that our environment is the reason this effect occurs, not a by-product of it. I love it. Psychology is so cool.
I put googly eyes all over my classroom because I think giving our faulty overhead speaker system a lopsided, urgent urgent is hilarious. Thank you for a second, equally funny, reason.
Thank you! This should improve my social ability! I just put up 345 pictures of eyes staring at me throughout my house. I thought this would help me socially but people tend to leave my house earlier now when I have them over...
This makes a ton of sense. I work retail, and the managers constantly remind us that the absolute best way to prevent theft is to have excellent customer service, and this basically explains it.
I studied sociology and anthropology so I really liked this episode cause I could easily link it to those other fields. I especially liked the end where Hank said “It’s complicated” and talked about how individual or larger social factors could effect the outcome.
I remember watching somewhere that doors or walking through a door does something with your memory. Kind of like a checkpoint that helps break up events in an easier, more efficient manor. Anyone know what that process is called?
This reminds me of the "Big Brother is Watching You" posters from 1984. Similar effect, but a whole lot stronger and with different motivators. Plus, there was probably someone actually watching the Oceanians
Makes me think about the posters I've seen a lot in the shop windows near where I used to work: a face or just a pair of eyes with the words "Hé fietsendief, je bent gezien!" (Hey, bicycle thief, I see you!). I was wondering if it would affect people who were planning on stealing a bike.
Ooo actually maybe having a screen where the eyes blink and move could increase the effect/the likelyhood of someone having the effect? Can someone give me a research grant? - I'll do it
I keep saying that we should put up pictures of eyes in the cvs I work at to discourage theft, but I think people would probably find it creepy and complain.
When I was a baby i was very scared of my grandma's magazines that she keeps in the bathrooms because I thought that the pictures of people would have tiny spy-kids-esque cameras hidden in the eyes, I knew it wasn't true and also that if they did have those cameras that they could put them anywhere, not just on the eyes, but still. I had to rearrange the magazines so they wouldn't watch me in the bathroom.
They should do the experiment using just a poster with eyes on it rather than a computer screen. Its possible the fact that its a computer might affect the results.
Well, to give an indication of function, when i saw the thumbnail for this image, i felt a very slight amount of fear and judging. I knew immediately that was the point and purpose of you selecting that image for the thumbnail when i saw the title of video.
So is there a social "norm" associated with being a test subject? Like a kind of personal/social pressure to be as "average" as possible? And if there is or isn't how would we know?
what if they watched your character in a game that had to make a choice ? do eyes that watch your virtual character would affect how u chose ? i guess it would have to do with the immersion on the game also :D
Can someone make a poster for dftba.com that shows tons of pairs of eyes watching me so I don't procrastinate anymore and don't pick at my pimples? Pleeeeeease?
Who else (besides John) thought of The Great Gatsby while watching this? “The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic-their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over no nose…. But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.”
Some stores have used this effect to their advantage, by posting "greeters" at the doors and plenty of pictures of people in positions that would make eye contact with customers. The idea to to reduce shoplifting, as they often pair this with uniformed employees working loss prevention at each entrance to establish that norm. For those stores, if it even reduces shoplifting by a small amount, it's worth it, but if it doesn't it won't cost them that much anyway.
Yeah the problem is when you use eyes to control others and one of them gets offended that someone's trying to control them. And then they end up in a rebellion.
lol this is why I refuse to throw my candy wrappers on the ground, even if I'm alone. I can't handle the thought of someone seeing me and thinking I'm a litterbug. (Plus you know, don't trash the earth lol)
Anyone thinking about eyes from "the handmaid's tale" (spies watching people to ensure people would follow the laws) Or about "big brother is watching" to ensure the lawß and norms would be followed
Fascinating thing: you use your eyes to watch this video, sure, but you need more you hearing, since the information is in audio part. So technically…to „extract“ information from this, you don't need you eyes. :-)
When you get an ad with Hank Green in it before a video with Hank Green in it and you don't know whether to celebrate because Hank Green is awesome, or cry because Hank Green is overwhelmingly awesome.
Maybe Baby what ad was this? I just got an empire building game ad
"Like so many other aspects of human behivor... It's complicated."
Amen to that SciScow
Also... notification squad!! Wooo!!
Hallelujah
Emma the FANGIRL
Saying a word with a religious connotation like Amen on a forum about science. That's edgy. I like edgy...
Just joking around.
"Truth resists simplicity"
Some things I've wondered about the watching eyes effect are
1. Does the size of the eyes matter? Do they need to be as big as or bigger than actual human eyes, or can they be tiny?
2. Does it matter whose eyes they are? Might a person having a picture of their family sitting on their desk watching them at work elicit the effect more strongly?
We fear cruel punishment from watching eyes. I don't want to receive 50 lashes.
Oh the puns
+
But how else are you going to make that sweater for squidward?
Steven Utter You're right, that would've been a better joke. I'll edit it.
LET'S SMACK YOU WITH A RULER 500 TIMES!
It sounds like we need to start putting eyes on our pencils and bic lighters.
That would be creepy
and bikes
Lighters would have a fire in their eyes.
Eye stickers for bikes.
and lunch boxes
I think I'm gonna put eyes on my bike now
Lane Spanner... Quick we need to put googly eyes on everything!
I have to put on on my car
THey actually put watching eyes on many bike racks in london, which has drastically cut bike thefts.
justin wood don't want to over do it or people will get desensitized to it and eventually it will be like the eyes aren't there at all.
"Take a look at the wall that's closest to you"
_looks at nearest wall_
"Now imagine there was a picture of a pair of eyes staring out at you"
_nearest wall happens to have a calendar with a cat poster on it staring at me_
>_>
If he hadn't been staring me down the whole video, I might have made a donation to a charity.
interesting- would the expression of the eyes (serious vs. smiley) and kind of eyes (googly vs photo) matter?
i have absolutely zero evidence to back this up, but i feel like photo eyes would be more effective, and that smiley vs serious would depend on the person.
I wonder, if there is a difference between what kind of eyes you see. How old the person is, what gender, color of skin, if it looks like the eyes are happy/sad, if it is a drawing, what kind of drawing/how realistic. so many questions.
... I work in an Eye Surgery Center....
So I am use to seeing eyes everywhere.
Ewwww. Why does your surgery center keep the eyes they remove?
tyrroo I think he means like posters and adverts.
The joke... there it goes... completely over your head
@@tyrroo your joke was not well said and your sarcasm was not on point
Ok, I find nearly every SciShow video interesting and informative, but this is one of those "woah...really? that's cool". I expected the eyes to make you more generous part, but not the 'do what the social norm is' part. Super interesting video!
It is so wildly interesting to me the different explanations you get from people based on which field of Psychology that they frequent. An evolutionary psychologist would absolutely agree that the watching eyes effect is likely due to reciprocal altruism, and the need to build a good reputation to ensure an easy social environment. Whereas, a developmental psychologist might say that our environment is the reason this effect occurs, not a by-product of it. I love it. Psychology is so cool.
I put googly eyes all over my classroom because I think giving our faulty overhead speaker system a lopsided, urgent urgent is hilarious. Thank you for a second, equally funny, reason.
Hank and John are my vision of what success looks like
Thank you! This should improve my social ability! I just put up 345 pictures of eyes staring at me throughout my house. I thought this would help me socially but people tend to leave my house earlier now when I have them over...
FlarbaGlarb lmao best comme t on here
I bet sales of googly eyes have tripled today.
I probably should go to my online shop of choice and buy a bunch of googly eyes.
better yet, go to the hospital and buy some real eyes.
That North Korea joke got me :D
I saw an ad for scishow before my video and I watched the whole ad before realizing that it wasn't the video I clicked on.
i love that you do not oversimplify the results on psych effects! thank you so so so much for that!!! we are a very young science :)
I can't pee if there's a photo of someone with eyes or even a stuffed animal with it's beady little eyes looking at me.
Someone at my work put googly eyes in the bathroom stalls.
This makes a ton of sense. I work retail, and the managers constantly remind us that the absolute best way to prevent theft is to have excellent customer service, and this basically explains it.
Sounds like I need to put a picture of eyes on my wall so I won’t look at my phone while doing my homework...
I studied sociology and anthropology so I really liked this episode cause I could easily link it to those other fields. I especially liked the end where Hank said “It’s complicated” and talked about how individual or larger social factors could effect the outcome.
And now go over to regular sci show to explain why eyes in paintings and posters seem to follow you around the room.
I like that this video and Crash Course's video about crime were released at almost the same time.
I get oddly uncomfortable when someone points their phone camera at me. I wonder if this is the same effect.
RDR as it should
when he said imagine eyes on the wall. Did anyone else imagine here's johnny or is it just me?
This show is great, really good job guys!
For some reason i feel like sharing this video more than ever...
This makes me want to put a picture of eyes at my workplace to see if it helps me procrastinate less.
I remember watching somewhere that doors or walking through a door does something with your memory. Kind of like a checkpoint that helps break up events in an easier, more efficient manor. Anyone know what that process is called?
This reminds me of the "Big Brother is Watching You" posters from 1984. Similar effect, but a whole lot stronger and with different motivators. Plus, there was probably someone actually watching the Oceanians
If I ever start a charity, I'll put pictures of eyes all over the room :D
private eyes **clap** are watching you **clap clap** they see your every move
Makes me think about the posters I've seen a lot in the shop windows near where I used to work: a face or just a pair of eyes with the words "Hé fietsendief, je bent gezien!" (Hey, bicycle thief, I see you!). I was wondering if it would affect people who were planning on stealing a bike.
"Unless the eyes start blinking at you.. Just run! Get outta there!"
Got it ! I'll be careful of that!
*puts a pair of eyes on my wall*
Man, uploaded a minute ago. Never been this early. Cool. What a great achievement. Hmm.
really puts those soviet icon portraits into perspective.
Hard Mode: Take a shot everytime hank says "Norm"
this video just has me thinking of Series of Unfortunate Events...
When I was living in Tokyo a few years ago, there were a lot of shops with pictures of eyes.
Ooo actually maybe having a screen where the eyes blink and move could increase the effect/the likelyhood of someone having the effect?
Can someone give me a research grant? - I'll do it
Was at the bar last night. Noticed that the Server always maintained direct eye contact, which in turn gives her more tips.
LOOOL
I keep saying that we should put up pictures of eyes in the cvs I work at to discourage theft, but I think people would probably find it creepy and complain.
"Look at a wall"...I'm in a car. Imagining a pair of eyes staring at me would be hella creepy.
When you actually have a painting of a giant eye on your wall...
Cool! I'm going to have a picture of eyes on my room wall. Maybe I will start studying earlier.
So many eyes watching me! I should probably comment and like this video.
THE EYES ON THE VALLEY OF ASHES ARE ALWAYS WATCHING
3:05 Rarely do I see someone use the word Die correctly.
All I could think of during this is the billboard of eyes that comes up again and again in the Great Gatsby.
Weird...I tend to push people away and do the right thing when no one is looking.
When I was a baby i was very scared of my grandma's magazines that she keeps in the bathrooms because I thought that the pictures of people would have tiny spy-kids-esque cameras hidden in the eyes, I knew it wasn't true and also that if they did have those cameras that they could put them anywhere, not just on the eyes, but still. I had to rearrange the magazines so they wouldn't watch me in the bathroom.
They should do the experiment using just a poster with eyes on it rather than a computer screen. Its possible the fact that its a computer might affect the results.
I'm curious if this is at all related to the doodling of eyes. Because most people I've discussed it with say that they have doodled eyes.
Well, to give an indication of function, when i saw the thumbnail for this image, i felt a very slight amount of fear and judging. I knew immediately that was the point and purpose of you selecting that image for the thumbnail when i saw the title of video.
So is there a social "norm" associated with being a test subject? Like a kind of personal/social pressure to be as "average" as possible? And if there is or isn't how would we know?
I always feel like somebody's watching meee.....
You have to push Eyes to open up doors in one of the stages of The Mage's Tale
what if they watched your character in a game that had to make a choice ? do eyes that watch your virtual character would affect how u chose ? i guess it would have to do with the immersion on the game also :D
Can someone make a poster for dftba.com that shows tons of pairs of eyes watching me so I don't procrastinate anymore and don't pick at my pimples? Pleeeeeease?
while watching this i just kept glancing over at a picture of me when i was like 5 which i never really paid attention to before.
Who else (besides John) thought of The Great Gatsby while watching this? “The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic-their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over no nose…. But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.”
this remember me of that study about religion and generosity
The eyes have it!
"It has motorized senors attached to motion detectors."
"So does my ass, but I don't frame it and put it on the wall, although...)
Some stores have used this effect to their advantage, by posting "greeters" at the doors and plenty of pictures of people in positions that would make eye contact with customers. The idea to to reduce shoplifting, as they often pair this with uniformed employees working loss prevention at each entrance to establish that norm. For those stores, if it even reduces shoplifting by a small amount, it's worth it, but if it doesn't it won't cost them that much anyway.
i could never be a research subject because i would overthink it and have subject bias
Why is one of the links a picture of a white dice? 😂😭
Yeah the problem is when you use eyes to control others and one of them gets offended that someone's trying to control them. And then they end up in a rebellion.
I keep a drawing of a purple head on a bunch of grapes hanging next to my bed (the eyes I gave it are red)
Does this make schizophrenics more honest than others? Always feel like someone's watching you...
There actually are eyes on the wall watching me now
I actually /do/ have a pair of eyes on my wall. Well, a picture of some.
both of those sets of eyes around the 2:00 mark are creepy as heck
I knew of this effect, but this video convinced me to use eyes to intentionally cause this.
interesting. i'll put eyes everywhere in my house
In there eyes I see you Alexander
lol this is why I refuse to throw my candy wrappers on the ground, even if I'm alone. I can't handle the thought of someone seeing me and thinking I'm a litterbug. (Plus you know, don't trash the earth lol)
I bet this is why we have stories of a supernatural entity who's watching you always like some stalker. God or Santa, take your pick.
Someone should compare a static image of eyes to the xeyes program, which displays a pair of eyes that track the mouse.
can I use this as an excuse to put googly eyes all over my house
Is it just eyes, or will a whole face (with eyes) have the same effect?
The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg??????? Hank, ask John if you don't know dis. You prolly know this.
Do cameras do the same thing? Even when we know they are fake?
Interesting. Didn't they do this with some Police poster recently as well?
Anyone thinking about eyes from "the handmaid's tale" (spies watching people to ensure people would follow the laws)
Or about "big brother is watching" to ensure the lawß and norms would be followed
big brother is watching... so you'll act better
Great, now i feel watched...
Fascinating thing: you use your eyes to watch this video, sure, but you need more you hearing, since the information is in audio part. So technically…to „extract“ information from this, you don't need you eyes. :-)
So basically we should have pictures of eyes put up everywhere in public so people behave.
Anyone think of the Great Gastby
Eye don't know what to think about this...
Orwell understood that eyes help enforce normative behavior. "Big Brother is Watching You."
Some norms are more powerful than others. What about Norm of the North?
Sounds like the Eyes have it!
Private Eyes they're watching you👀👀👀