Want to be More Healthy? Stop Lying!
By Zaid Srour, Marketing —
If you want to be healthier, there’s something important to add to your diet — honesty.
University of Notre Dame Psychology Professor Anita E. Kelly recently, presented results from her latest research project at the national convention of the American Psychological Association. The study concluded that honesty can strengthen our immune system, which leads to greater health benefits over time.
The study randomly assigned 72 adults into two groups: a control group and a “sincerity” group. Both of these groups were told they would be in a study for five weeks. Instructions given to the two groups differed in one way — members of the sincerity group were instructed to tell the truth in every matter, while members of the control group were instructed to live normally.
The Results
At the end of the fifth week, both groups had lie detection tests and were measured for their overall physical health. The findings of these tests showed significant differences between these groups. The sincerity group reported less physical health symptoms and illnesses than the control group.
The study made sure there were no outlying factors between the two groups that would explain differences in health, making honesty the deciding variable.
Ready to Try an Experiment?
Professor Kelly states that an average person lies 11 times a day, a habit that takes time to overcome in the quest to become honest. When Kelly conducted the honesty experiment on herself, she noticed a marked improvement in health — she went from experiencing numerous colds each winter to experiencing none after she began telling only the truth.
While the findings of the study may be controversial to some, anyone is welcome to try and see for themselves if honesty may be a powerful cure for what ails them.
