IS ILLNESS "PAYBACK" FOR BAD BEHAVIOR?

• Position: Brief Article

Up to 44% of adults believe that, in some cases, people may get a serious illness because they deserve it for bad behavior, according to a study at Ohio State University, Columbus. The results provide evidence that, while adults may learn the principles of science in school, they don't always apply these principles in all situations, notes Lakshmi Raman, a doctoral student in psychology and co-author of the study with Gerald Winer, professor of psychology.

Two hundred and thirty-nine college students were presented with a vignette about a person contracting a mysterious, serious, and deadly illness. The ill person was described as having lied, cheated, and done other bad things. In the vignette, the main character, talking about the person who got sick, said, "I believe that serious illnesses happen at least slightly more often to people who deserve them." A minor character in the vignette then agreed or disagreed with this statement...