coffee drinkers say yes more often
Caffeine makes you more open-minded, report scientists from the University of Queensland. Apparently, caffeine consumers are not only in a better mood, but are also more easily dissuaded from their own points of view. According to the psychologists, the active ingredient improves people's receptiveness, making them more flexible and cooperative.
Pearl Martin and her colleagues asked 150 subjects for their opinion on socially debated issues such as voluntary euthanasia. The test subjects were then given pure orange juice or juice to which the researchers had previously added 200 milligrams of caffeine. After waiting about forty minutes for the caffeine to take effect, the researchers presented the subjects with arguments against their original attitudes towards euthanasia. They questioned the subjects again. In fact, the subjects who consumed the caffeine drink were more easily persuaded of opposing views on euthanasia than the placebo users.
In order to be able to rule out that the subjects had been put in a good mood by the caffeine and were therefore more open-minded, Martin gave up disturbing tasks. For example, the subjects had to cross out the letter "O" wherever it appeared in a text.
