The potential applications for this research are worth a mention, too:
These findings contribute to discussions on how public spaces and social interventions can be designed to encourage kindness and cooperation. If unexpected yet non-threatening events can increase mindfulness and prosocial behavior, urban planners, policymakers, and psychologists may consider ways to integrate “positive disruptions” into daily life. This could range from artistic or theatrical interventions in public spaces to strategic messaging campaigns designed to momentarily break routine and engage individuals more deeply with their environment and community.
It sounds like more public art can lead to more pro-social behavior, especially if the art is changed periodically (to keep it “unexpected.”) There’s a lot to be explored with this idea.
I read somewhere that being or feeling watched makes people behave better, so just pictures of people will have an effect.
Makes sense. They see what looks like a person, the brain eagerly looks up “how do I act when there’s someone here?”, then realizes it’s just a painting, but the good behavior is already looked up.
The potential applications for this research are worth a mention, too:
It sounds like more public art can lead to more pro-social behavior, especially if the art is changed periodically (to keep it “unexpected.”) There’s a lot to be explored with this idea.
I read somewhere that being or feeling watched makes people behave better, so just pictures of people will have an effect.
Makes sense. They see what looks like a person, the brain eagerly looks up “how do I act when there’s someone here?”, then realizes it’s just a painting, but the good behavior is already looked up.