It is often said that there are colors that are more stylistic. Who hasn’t resorted to black to lose a few pounds? There is also controversy over stripes. But what about numbers? Perhaps there will be fattening figures? According to a study just published in PLUS ONE, Yes it is possible. But it’s all in our brainCertainly.
This study was born from an interesting observation based on the ancient rule National Football League (NFL). It made the players of the past carry T-shirts with numbers from 80 to 89.. However, in 2019 this obligation was removed and the teams had to decide if they want to use this way of numbering shirts or prefer to do so. from 10 to 19. Shortly thereafter, 80% chose lower numbers. And the most curious thing is that many players claimed that they prefer this numbering because they feel that it makes them Thinner and therefore, faster and more agile.
Obviously, this is not true. The number doesn’t matter. However, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), incense shamsinterested in this topic. He wanted to test whether this was related to the perception of the brain, and indeed found that it was. This, in relation to football players, is the smallest, but it can be a very useful discovery in other areas.
Why are there numbers that are getting fatter?
The authors of this study started it back in COVID-19 pandemicso the first step was done using online surveys. Participants were shown a series of images of American football players in various playing positions, skin colors and builds. They all appeared in T-shirts. numbered 10 to 19 or 80 to 89.
Interestingly, when participants were asked to rate who seemed thinner, a very representative number chose values between 10 and 19, even if it was the same person. This does not mean that there is fattening figures. But something was happening.
To give an answer, a second experiment was carried out, since personallywhen pandemic restrictions were lifted. It was hoped that a more accurate assessment could be made by seeing the players live. But the results were about the same. I thought for a moment that this might be because 8 is much wider than 1, so there would be an optical effect that would make those numbers appear fatter. Therefore, it was decided to take combinations of the same numbers: 18 and 81, 17 and 71, 19 and 91. Again, the numbers 10 to 19 were chosen as being more subtle. True, they were not so representative, but still it was so.
Question of brain statistics
As UCLA scientists explain in their study, our brains are pretty good at spotting trends.
Usually when we see a large number it is due to something big. A 2 liter bottle of water will be larger than a 0.5 liter bottle. A 1kg bag of pasta will be larger than a 0.5kg bag. The rent of 500 euros is much higher than the 200, which is practically non-existent.
We associate big numbers with something big. For this reason, although it is completely irrelevant in the case of jerseys, our brains tend to create an association unconsciously.
This is useful for us when we have to make quick decisions, but sometimes it can lead us to make mistakes, such as thinking that there is fattening figures However, these scholars believe it is useful to know as it can be taken into account in areas where physical appearance can lead to prejudice and discrimination. It is ideal and logical to fight this discrimination in the bud. Another thing is the patch. But a temporary patch that, when mental health is at stake, can be useful in a way. To deceive the brain in such situations is normal. It is much better to deal with fatphobia.
Source: Hiper Textual
