If you want to convince the boss you deserve a pay rise or promotion, the solution could be simple --- eat the same food as they do. Psychologists have discovered managers are much more likely to instantly trust us if we choose the same dishes as them.

During experiments, discussions over wages and work conditions were much more successful if both sides chose to snack on the same treats. And shoppers were much more likely to buy a product advertised on TV by someone eating a similar food to them at the time.

The reason is thought to be the so–called similarity attraction theory --- where people tend to like others who have similar tastes or habits to themselves. But this is believed to be one of the first studies highlighting the role of food in this relationship. Researchers at Chicago University in the US conducted a series of experiments to examine food’s role in earning trust.

In a test, participants were told to watch TV --- where someone pretending to be a member of the public praised a certain product. The volunteers were given Kit Kat bars to nibble, while the TV people ate either a Kit Kat or grapes as they talked.

The results showed viewers were much more likely to express an interest in buying the product if the TV showed the other person eating a Kit Kat too. The researchers added, “Although similarity in food consumption is not a sign of whether two people will get along, we find consumers treat this as such. They feel more trusting of those who consume as they do. It means people can immediately begin to feel friendship and develop a bond, leading to smoother transactions from the start.”

Harley Street psychologist Dr. Lucy Atcheson said it was already known that wearing similar clothes could instantly create trust. But this was the first report that food had the same effect. She said, “This is really interesting. It makes sense as people feel they have common ground and can trust the other person. That means negotiations are more likely to be successful.”

High school cheating on the rise

According to a recent survey, 61% of American high school students have admitted to cheating in exams at least once, an increase of 5% over last year. It can be argued such a response may not mean much. After all, most students have been faced with the temptation to peek at a neighbour’s test paper. And students can be hard on themselves in judging such behaviour.

More and more states are requiring students to pass academic tests in order to receive their high school diplomas. And many educators fear that an increase in the use of state exams will lead to a corresponding rise in cheating.

Cheating is now considered to be a major problem in colleges and universities. Several professors say they’ve dropped the traditional term paper requirement because many students buy prewritten term papers, and they can’t track down all the cheaters any more.

Colleges and universities across the nation have decided to do more than talk about the students’ cheating. For instance, the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland launched a campaign to stop one form of cheating. Students are required to produce an ID card with an attached photo so as to catch “ringers”, students who take tests for other students.

The majority of students at the University of Maryland applauded the campaign. The campus newspaper editorial said, “Like police arresting speeders, the intent is not to catch everyone, but rather to catch enough to spread the word.”

The widespread use of Internet technology has made our lives easier but causes a big challenge to senior citizens (长者), who are not always comfortable with smartphones and so many new apps.

Only a few senior citizens are able to enjoy the advantages that new technologies offer. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the number of people aged 60 and above was 253.88 million in 2019, about 18.1% of China's population. But only 23% of the senior citizens were able to use the Internet. That means more than three-fourths of the elderly are deprived (被剥夺) of the digital benefits.

Many senior citizens who can't use smartphones are facing difficulties during this pandemic (流行病)．Even with a smartphone in hand and Internet available, many of them still feel helpless. They don't know how to call a taxi through the apps. There have been reports of many shops turning away elders who don't know how to pay using smartphones, instead of letting them pay with cash. Worse still, as they don't know how to get the Internet-based health code (健康码), they are refused to enter many public places. Presenting individual health code is part of the epidemic prevention(防疫) and control measures.

New technologies become popular because they are often useful in our daily lives. But many senior citizens, especially those living in the countryside or those whose grown-up children don't live with them, are not able to use the Internet or smartphones, either because of financial(财政的) problems or because they cannot learn new things beyond a certain point. The digital gap between the elderly and the young is becoming more clear.

However, the senior citizens should not become a silent group deprived of digital benefits. It is our responsibility to help them bridge the digital gap, and be patient with them when they face difficulties catching up.