HOW MUCH WOULD YOU ASK FOR?

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 87, 9 October 1937, Page 27

HOW MUCH WOULD YOU ASK FOR?

1. (a) Committing a murder, provid-' ing you knew that no one would ever find out? (b) Committing same murder if it was to be known that you had done it, but you were to escape punishment? r 2. Never for one moment—sleeping or waking—being left alone for five years. Ever-present companion to be chosen by you? 3." Alternatively, living in a self-sup-porting house and grounds without human companionship for five years? 4. Sitting down at a cinema throughout the playing of "God Save the King"? 5. Having your hair dyed green? 0. Falling into a trance during one month of each year for the rest of your life (taking into account the effect this would have on your business and social activities)? 7. Becoming insane during one month of each year for the rest of your life? 8. Abandoning all hope of life after, death? 9. Agreeing.to die (by any means you like) in fifteen years from today? 10. Making a parachute jump from an aeroplane 3000 feet up? This is a series of questions asked of a group of psychologists in order to find out whether for mercenary considerations the average human being will perform actions that—from fear of public opinion, moral conscience, physical repugnance, or fear—they would not ordinarily commit, says the "Daily Express." From the results it seems that most people will do most things for cash. The answers to these questions (it first being explained that the subject was to imagine him or herself in a state of financial need at the time of the offer) suggested some provocative generalisations. Over the whole questionnaire, men wanted nearly twice as much money as the women; were prepared to commit fewer of the actions. On the other hand, the average sum for which a man would commit a murder (provided he was not found out) was a mere £20,000, whereas the average sum demanded by women was £70,000. Fifty per cent, of the questionees said that for no mercenary consideration would they commit murder. The majority of the potential murderers wanted more if (Question b) their act was to be known to the world. One woman, however, asks less—a

mere £25,000—explaining that her feeling of repugnance was not for the act, but the fear of afterwards being unable to keep her secret, that is, fear of ultimate punishment. Answers to Question No. 2 show that the majority of unmarried men would not suffer a constant companion for any money in the world. And those who %vould ask sums which are hard to imagine. Apparently man thinks his companionship cheap at round about £1,000,000,000 for five years. Women ask large sums, too, but usually keep below the million mark. Perhaps it is because most of the questionees are city dwellers that the lone life appears so attractive to them. Though half the men would not consider the question, the other half asked modest sums, averaging out at an income of about a couple of thousand a year for life. Women, too, seemed to think this a preferable way of making money to the former proposition. The amount for which they would sit down through the playing of the National Anthem varied hugely—from threepence to a thousand pounds. . The average sum for which women would have their hair dyed green was £550. Men asked a median of £8000. A bald man replied that he would rather have green hair than none. The majority of men show a marked disinclination to go into a trance for a month each year. .Contrary to the women, the greater number who refused absolutely were quite willing (they said) to suffer a month's insanity. Types of insanity most popular showed desire for power—where subject thinks himself to be either God or Napoleon. As to Question No. 8, the majority of the questionees believe in a future life. The highest figure asked, by a woman who goes to church on Sundays, is £10,000. The lowest is 2J<L The average £3000., Young people, one gathers, are quite ready to die in fifteen years' time for an immediate cash consideration. The older ones want to hang on; £10,000 is the almost uniform figure asked by women. Men, though varying greatly, ask about the same on an average. The greater number of women will not jump from an aeroplane. Male requirements run from £ 100 to £10,000.