mo' money, fewer problems?

Handling money lessens the effects of social rejection and physical pain, according to a study that NPR reported about last week.

They split subjects into two groups. The first group counted blank pieces of paper, and the second group counted money. Then subjects in both groups played a game with people and were never thrown the ball. People who were in the second group, the money-counting group, felt less social rejection than the first group! In a related study, the money-handling group also felt less physical pain when they put their hands in a bowl with 122-degree water!

What does this mean? I can just imagine doctors telling their patients with fibromyalgia to dive in a pool full of money a la Scrooge McDuck to make them feel better.

I guess the fact that money can reduce the effect of pain isn't such a bad thing. But if we really think, even subconsciously, that money is a substitute for social acceptance, that sounds dangerous!

In the interview, the researcher was asked what real-world applications could come of these findings, and she joked that she could have just held a wad of money in her hands to help get rid of her pre-final exam anxieties when she was in school! Something to think about I guess! :)