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Here is a summary of the Table of Contents:

The book includes a title page, dedication, epigraph, and table of figures ahead of the main content.
The introduction describes the author’s longstanding interest in unusual aspects of human behavior (quirkology) and references pioneering researchers like Francis Galton who studied curious topics in objective ways.
Chapter 1 examines how date of birth may shape personality traits and links chronopsychology to topics like tax evasion and mortality rates.
Chapter 2 looks at deception, false memories, and the psychology of seances and psychic readings.
Chapter 3 analyzes superstitious beliefs and their contagious nature across cultures and situations.
Chapter 4 delves into unconscious persuasion techniques, personal ads, and forming first impressions.
Chapter 5 reports on experiments to identify the world’s funniest joke and understand the neural basis of humor.
Chapter 6 tests honesty across behaviors like donating to charities and explores links between religion and ethical tendencies.
Chapter 7 promises to cover additional “quirkoogical oddities”.
The book closes with an afterword, notes, index and copyright information.

So in summary, the TOC previews a wide-ranging exploration of unusual and quirky topics in human behavior and psychology through multiple experimental chapters.

The author conducted an experiment as part of the British Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting to test claims of financial astrology.
Three participants invested £5,000 each over the course of a week - a financial astrologer, an experienced investment analyst, and a 4-year-old girl.
The astrologer chose stocks based on the formation dates of companies, while the analyst drew on experience in communications companies. The girl randomly selected stocks by grabbing papers thrown in the air.
After a turbulent week, the astrologer lost 10.1%, the analyst lost 7.1%, and the girl lost only 4.6%, placing her in first.
A year later, after an overall 16% market drop, the analyst lost 46.2%, the astrologer lost 6.2%, but the girl was again in first place, gaining against the falling market.
The experiment provided humorous anecdotes but also appeared to disprove the astrologer’s claims, as the random child investor outperformed both experts. It suggests date of birth may not predict financial success as astrology claims.
Hans Eysenck, a prominent British psychologist, conducted several studies to test the relationship between astrology and personality as predicted by astrological lore.
In one study with over 2,000 participants who believed in astrology, the results matched astrological predictions - those born under extroverted star signs were slightly more extroverted.
However, follow up studies cast doubt on this. A study of 1,000 children found no relationship between star signs and personality. Another study found adults with astrological knowledge conformed to predictions, while those without knowledge did not.
This suggested personality was shaped more by people’s knowledge and expectations of their star signs, rather than direct planetary influences. Other researchers found similar effects, where cultural expectations shaped behavior.
Further astrological studies aimed to control for confirmation bias by looking at things like “time twins” born simultaneously or “Pogo the Clown” who was unaware of his birth details. But the summary does not provide details on the results of these later studies.

In summary, Hans Eysenck’s initial study appeared to support astrology but follow ups suggested personality was shaped more by psychological factors like expectations than direct planetary influences. Later studies tried to control for these biases but details are not given.

Geoffrey Dean conducted research into astrology by studying a large database of people born in London between March 3-9, 1958. He looked at personality tests and intelligence scores from ages 11, 16, and 23 to compare “time twins” born minutes apart.
Contrary to astrologers’ predictions, he found little similarity between time twins. People born just minutes apart were no more alike than those born days or weeks apart.
Other researchers have tested individual astrologers by providing details of notorious criminals and seeing if astrologers can accurately predict their personalities. Tests with details of serial killer John Gacy found astrologers making wildly inaccurate predictions.
Psychologist Bertram Forer conducted an experiment where he gave students a generic astrology-style personality description and most rated it as highly accurate despite all receiving the same description. This showed people tend to see vague statements as insightful about themselves.
Forer’s experiment helped explain why astrology and graphology can seem compelling even if not actually accurate - vague statements allow people to interpret them subjectively and see personal relevance.
Michel Gauquelin conducted a follow-up study where he sent computer-generated horoscopes based on the birth details of notorious French mass murderer Marcel Petiot to over 150 people.
94% of recipients said the horoscope accurately described their personality, even though it contained vague Barnum statements that could apply to many people. Some were so impressed they offered to pay for a more detailed analysis.
People tend to endorse vague horoscope statements because many are generally true of most people. Even seemingly specific statements can apply to a surprising number of individuals.
There is also a “flattery effect” - people are more willing to believe positive statements about themselves. About half the population is especially accepting of their astrology sign if it has traditionally positive traits.
Chronopsychology scientifically studies time and its effects on the mind, like circadian rhythms, shift work and jet lag. Some research has examined subtle influences birthdates may have on people’s behaviors. While not proving astrology, it explores related topics using the scientific method.
An analysis in the early 1990s found that English footballers were more likely to be born between September and November, as they would be physically more mature compared to those born between June-August. Similar birth month effects have been found in other sports.
The author conducted research on lucky and unlucky people. Lucky people tended to be optimistic, energetic, and open to opportunities. Unlucky people were more anxious, withdrew from opportunities.
He wondered if some people are “born lucky”. Researchers conducted an online study at the Edinburgh Science Festival, collecting birth months and luck ratings from over 40,000 people.
The results showed those born in summer (March-August) rated themselves luckier than those born in winter (Sept-Feb). Luck peaked in May and was lowest in October.
There are several possible explanations, like temperature effects pre-birth or at birth influencing personality development. To test explanations, the researchers wanted to replicate the study in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasonal temperature pattern is reversed. This would determine if temperature or astrological factors explain the “born lucky” effect.

The essay discusses several studies that looked at how people may manipulate or be influenced by birth dates and times.

One study found evidence that some parents in the US induced labor or scheduled C-sections around the New Year to claim larger tax benefits depending on whether the child was born in December or January. Another looked at biographical data and found more prominent people claimed birthdays on culturally significant days like Independence Day than expected by chance, suggesting they were “basking in reflected glory.”

Specifically focusing on clergy, more eminent clergy than noneminent clergy claimed to share a birthday with Christmas, again possibly seeking association. However, it’s also possible parents of eminent figures deliberately misreported birth dates to seem more auspicious.

The essay then discusses studies on astrology by Michel Gauquelin who found certain planetary positions at birth may correlate with later eminence. However, it’s possible parental lies about birth dates could explain anomalies in the data and the so-called “Mars effect.” Overall, the essay examines different ways birth dates and times may be intentionally or unintentionally manipulated and influence perceptions.

The passage describes the author’s lifelong interest in deception and lies, sparked by a magic trick performed by his grandfather when he was 8 years old. This inspired him to become a magician.
As a magician, he was fascinated by why and how people can be fooled. This led him to study psychology and research deception.
Some areas he has studied include: the telltale signs that give liars away, how fake smiles differ from genuine ones, and how people can be made to believe they experienced events that didn’t actually happen (through false memories).
His goal has been to better understand the psychology of deception - why people lie and how others can be deceived. The childhood magic trick was the starting point for this continued fascination over many decades.

In summary, the passage traces the origin of the author’s long-standing interest in deception and lying back to a magical experience as a child, which sparked his career as a magician and subsequent psychological research on these topics.

Researchers have studied deception in animals and humans to understand its evolutionary origins. One study observed elephants seemingly deceiving each other over food. Gorilla sign language research provided possible evidence of gorillas lying to cover up misbehaviors.
Studies with children found that around age 3, they start peeking at prohibited toys and lying about it when asked. By age 5, all children peek and lie.
The author’s own research has focused on adult human deception. Surveys found most people lie several times daily and detection of lies is low. Important lies in history like Hitler’s misleading of Chamberlain impacted world events.
A brief test asks the reader to draw a letter on their forehead to assess their ability to lie based on whether others can read it or not. The origins and prevalence of deception across species is a complex topic researchers are still unraveling.
A study tested whether people could detect lies by having Sir Robin Day, a prominent British TV interviewer, describe his favorite film truthfully in one interview and lie in the other. The interviews were aired live and viewers voted on which they thought was the lie.
Viewers guessed only slightly better than chance, with 52% picking the truthful interview as the lie. Sir Robin later revealed he had lied about enjoying the “crashing bore” film Gone with the Wind.
Decades of research looking at lie detection in many contexts has consistently found people, including experts, perform little better than chance at identifying lies.
High self-monitors, who are concerned with how others see them, tend to be better liars as they can adapt their behavior and manipulate perceptions. Low self-monitors are less aware of their impact and tend to lie less.
Psychologists believe people struggle with lie detection because lies are rarely unambiguous and liars don’t display obvious tells. It is difficult for observers to ignore biases and accurately assess statements and behavior.

Based on the details provided in the interviews:

The first interview, where Leslie Nielsen claims his favorite food is ketchup, seems to contain inaccuracies. He provides very specific childhood memories of putting ketchup on bread that seem embellished.
The second interview, where he mentions sour cream, is less detailed and rings more truthful. He acknowledges sour cream is “becoming a favorite” rather than making definitive claims.

So it appears the lie was in the first interview about ketchup. The language used and level of invented detail suggest that was not genuinely his favorite food. The second interview claiming sour cream seems more honest based on the information given.

The passage discusses studies on detecting deception in language and facial expressions. One study found it is difficult to detect lies based on transcripts alone.
Regarding facial expressions, people are more likely to smile when with others compared to alone, indicating smiles serve a social purpose beyond expressing inner feelings.
The author conducted an experiment to see if people can distinguish genuine from fake smiles in photos. Volunteers were prompted to smile genuinely or fake a smile, and photo pairs were shown to the public.
The experiment was held as an art exhibition, alongside famous paintings. Previous researchers had also studied smiles in an art context, like analyzing the mysterious smile of the Mona Lisa.

The key points are that deception is hard to detect from transcripts alone, smiles serve social functions beyond feelings, and the author conducted a study using photo pairs to test if the public can distinguish real from fake smiles, replicating previous scientific analyses done in art exhibitions.

Researchers in the early 19th century experimented with using electricity on executed criminals to see how it affected muscle movement in the face. Scientists like Giovanni Aldini performed demonstrations that shocked onlookers.
This work laid the foundations for modern electrical stimulation research and inspired Shelley’s Frankenstein. It also originated the term “corpsing” used in acting.
In the 1860s, Guillaume Duchenne studied facial expressions more scientifically by photographing a man’s face as he electrically stimulated individual muscles.
Duchenne discovered the difference between a genuine smile, involving muscles around the eyes, vs a fake “Pan American” smile using just mouth muscles.
Modern studies have confirmed Duchenne’s findings. One study showed people had difficulty distinguishing genuine vs fake smiles in photos.
Other research has found that exhibiting positive emotions and genuine smiles early in life can predict greater long-term health, happiness and life satisfaction later on. Frequency of positive words in nuns’ autobiographies correlated with living up to 10 years longer.
Researchers examined photographs of women from their college yearbooks in their early 20s. About half showed a genuine Duchenne smile with crinkles by the eyes, and half showed a Pan Am polite smile without crinkles.
Those displaying genuine Duchenne smiles were more likely to be and stay married, be happier, and have better health long-term. Lifelong success and happiness could be predicted by the simple crinkling around the eyes in early photographs.
Psychologists later studied how memory can be manipulated. Experiments showed people could be convinced they saw signs or objects that weren’t actually there. Other studies implanted entirely false memories, persuading some participants to describe in detail events that never occurred, like a childhood hot air balloon ride.
Memories are more malleable than we believe. With suggestion from an authority figure, most people have difficulty denying a false memory and fill in details from their imagination. Over time, it becomes hard to separate fact from fiction.
Even public figures like President Reagan have unintentionally spread false memories as facts from confusing fiction with reality, like attributing a scene from a war film to a real Congressional Medal of Honor story. Suggestion techniques are also used intentionally by magicians to convince audiences of the impossible.
J. Jastak, a psychologist, conducted experiments in the late 1800s/early 1900s testing the skills of famous magicians. He found their reaction times, movements, etc. were fairly ordinary and matched non-magicians.
Magic relies more on psychological techniques like suggestion rather than fast movements. Magicians can manipulate audience perception through confidence and rhetoric.
The author conducted experiments showing how suggestion can make people believe they saw impossible things, like a key bending on its own. Over half of students fell for the suggestion.
Another experiment involved staging fake Victorian-style séances with objects that glowed in the dark and simple trickery to create the illusion of ghostly activity. Suggestion that a table was levitating made over a third of participants believe they saw it move.
Further experiments in shopping malls showed that suggestion could make people feel odd sensations from ordinary objects and part with money to purchase them. Visual elements like lab coats strengthened the effects of suggestion.

So in summary, the passage discusses how early scientific studies of magic revealed its psychological underpinnings, and outlines experiments the author conducted demonstrating the powerful effects of suggestion in manipulating perception and beliefs.

The Savoy Hotel in London is famous for its fine dining and attentive service. It also has a three-foot-high wooden black cat named Kaspar that is brought to tables of 13 guests for good luck.
In 1898, a British businessman named Woolf Joel booked a table for 14 people at the hotel, but one guest canceled, leaving 13. Against superstition, the meal went ahead. Woolf was later shot dead in South Africa.
After this, the Savoy refused parties of 13 until the 1920s when they hired an artist to create Kaspar the cat to join such tables for luck.
Many prominent figures had superstitious habits or beliefs, like touching objects for luck or avoiding unlucky numbers. Surveys show over half of Americans and Britons have at least one superstition.
Research found superstitions can have real impacts, like lowering house prices if the number is considered unlucky. Death rates in some cultures rise on days associated with unlucky numbers.
Traffic accidents increase 52% on Fridays considered unlucky by some. Entire societies can be influenced by annual animal signs said to predict fortune or misfortune in Chinese and Japanese culture.
In 1682, a Japanese woman named Oshichi started a small fire to gain the affection of a priest, but it spread out of control and destroyed much of Tokyo.
In 1966, a researcher found the Japanese birthrate dropped 25% and abortions increased over 20,000, likely due to superstitions around it being the Year of the Fire Horse. Girls born that year were believed to have especially unlucky lives. Newborn girl mortality rates from accidents/violence were higher, suggesting infanticide.
Another study found Japanese hospitals waste millions per year keeping patients until “lucky” discharge days due to superstitions, and Irish maternity records show fewer Saturday discharges.
Superstitions have survived for historical/cultural reasons but scientific tests find no evidence they impact outcomes like lotto numbers. One study tested if crossing a black cat’s path affected coin toss luck with no effect. Doctors also show superstitious beliefs not backed by evidence.
Researchers tested whether comments like “it will be a quiet night” actually bring more patients to the hospital. 30 doctors were randomly assigned to receive either an encouraging message (“you will have a great day”) or a blank paper. The encouraged doctors did not receive more patients.
A similar study in the UK found no difference in admissions between teams who discussed weather vs saying it would be a quiet night.
In the late 1800s, Captain William Fowler started a “Thirteen Club” that deliberately broke superstitions like dining in groups of 13. Over 40 years, membership grew with no apparent ill effects on health.
Bronislaw Malinowski observed the isolated Trobriand Islanders engage more in rituals during dangerous open-sea fishing vs calm lagoon fishing, suggesting superstitions emerge from unpredictability.
Studies found Germans adopted more superstitions during 1920-30s economic instability, and Israelis in unsafe areas did so more during the 1991 Gulf War, showing superstitions arise from uncertainty.
While sometimes used to cope, superstitions can also spread through “contagion” beliefs and have negative social consequences. Overall, the evidence suggests superstitions are not valid but emerge from human psychology around uncertainty.

Here is a summary of the key points without commentary:

Some people believe that air or fingernail clippings of an intended victim can be used to exert influence over them, usually in a negative way. This ties into concepts of magical thinking and contamination.
Psychologist Paul Rozin conducted experiments showing that people are averse to wearing laundered clothing previously owned by someone seen as “evil”, like a murderer, even if there are no real health risks. Their aversion is greater than for clothing soiled by dog feces.
This suggests underlying prejudices and irrational beliefs in concepts of contagious magic may still exist in modern Western societies. The clothing experiments revealed people’s willingness to engage in magical thinking even when consciously acknowledging there is no real risk.
Milgram conducted an experiment in the 1960s where 198 Nebraska residents were asked to send a letter to a target person in Boston via friends/acquaintances they knew on a first name basis. It took on average 6 people to link the initial sender to the target, demonstrating how closely connected people are through only a few degrees of separation.
In 2003, the author replicated Milgram’s experiment in Britain, finding it took on average 4 people to link initial volunteers to a target person in Cheltenham. This supported the idea that advances in communication have shrunk the social world over time.
The author also found that people who rated themselves as “lucky” were more successful at forwarding packages and appeared to know more potential recipients, suggesting lucky people inhabit a smaller social world.
The author has also studied paranormal claims like firewalking. A test on TV showed firewalkers who claimed magical abilities could not actually walk further than science predicts and suffered burns, showing how belief can be dangerous.
He has also studied ghost beliefs and experiences, seeking to understand psychological factors behind paranormal experiences through experiments at alleged haunted locations.
The authors describe conducting studies in allegedly haunted locations like underground vaults in London and Edinburgh to understand why people consistently report odd experiences in certain areas, rather than trying to prove or disprove ghosts.
They find that some people are more sensitive to perceived ghostly presences due to things like good imaginations and the ability to convince themselves of experiences. Context also plays a role, as shown in an experiment where haunting reports varied depending on whether people knew a location’s history.
However, an engineer named Vic Tandy had an experience he couldn’t explain, then discovered vibration from low-frequency sound waves in the room that fell below the human hearing range. Such infrasound is known to have strange physical effects and could potentially cause ghostly perceptions.
Many animals can detect infrasound, and it is produced by natural phenomena like earthquakes. The military has also researched infrasound weapons.
The authors teamed up with a sound artist to design an experiment testing if low levels of infrasound could induce strange experiences, to further explore Vic Tandy’s hypothesis about its role in alleged hauntings.
Sarah led a team that conducted an experiment to test whether infrasound could induce strange sensations often associated with ghosts, like feeling watched or having tingling skin.
They staged two classical piano concerts where the audience filled out questionnaires about their feelings and experiences during the music. Sometimes infrasound was pumped into the auditorium without the audience’s knowledge.
The results showed people reported significantly more unusual sensations like anxiety, increased heart rate, etc. when infrasound was present, providing the first experimental evidence it could cause apparent “ghostly” experiences.
This finding led to inquiries from theme parks about using infrasound to intensify scary rides. Academics also suggested infrasound in ancient sites and large church organ pipes could contribute to sacred experiences.
The team tested churches and found some organ pipes did produce significant infrasound, supporting the idea this could affect feelings of spirituality in worshippers. Overall, the experiment provided initial evidence that strange sensations sometimes attributed to ghosts may have natural explanations like infrasound.
The passage discusses research into how people make decisions in various areas of life, from careers to where they live.
It examines claims that subliminal messages can influence behavior, like James Vicary’s 1957 study supposedly showing Coke and popcorn sales rose after flashing messages to “Drink Coke” and “Eat Popcorn” subliminally during movies.
Experts Melvin DeFleur and Robert Petranoff tested this on TV, flashing “Watch Frank Edwards” during a movie and “Buy Bacon” in commercials. Viewership of Frank Edwards fell and bacon sales rose modestly, disproving significant effects.
Vicary later admitted his study was too small and fictional, though it popularized the idea of subliminal influence. Subsequent studies found no effects from subliminal TV messages.
Politicians still worry subtle signals in ads could sway voters, like when Democrats accused a 2000 Republican ad of using “rats” subliminally, which Republicans denied. Some books also claim advertisers implant sexual images subliminally to boost sales.
Several companies have marketed subliminal audiotapes claiming to produce desirable effects like increased self-esteem, but scientific studies have failed to find evidence that subliminal messages work.
Research shows subtle cues like our names can influence our behavior and life outcomes in meaningful ways outside of our conscious awareness.
Studies found people with unusual or negatively perceived names were more likely to be diagnosed with psychosis and teachers gave higher grades to children with likable names.
Initials research found men with “positive” initials like “joy” lived 4.5 years longer on average, while those with “negative” initials like “die” died 3 years earlier.
Empirical studies found some potential benefits to unusual names like being more memorable and associated with higher career achievement in some cases.
Name research also suggests people may be influenced to live in places and marry partners with names similar to their own, even just matching the first letter of their surname.
Overall, the research presents evidence that subtle cues in our environment outside conscious awareness, like our own names, can influence various life outcomes and behaviors in meaningful ways.

Here is a summary of the key points without copying significant copyrighted content:

Studies have shown that subtle cues can influence people’s behaviors and thoughts in unintended ways. Merely thinking about words related to elderly people caused experimental participants to unconsciously walk more slowly.
Generating sentences about a football hooligan versus a professor impacted performance on trivia questions. Those who thought of a hooligan answered fewer correctly.
Mood and social cues affect tipping habits. People tipped more when waiters used humor, smiled, referred to customers by name or touched their palm briefly with the bill.
Playing classical versus pop music in a wine shop dramatically changed the average prices of wines purchased, even though other shopping behaviors were unchanged. Classical music led to pricier selections.
Lyrics in country songs often reference topics statistically associated with higher mortality, suggesting subtle messages could potentially influence life and death decisions too.

In summary, the research discussed shows just how readily our behaviors, decisions and even abilities can be shaped by subtle environmental factors and cues operating below our conscious awareness. Context matters greatly in ways we tend not to realize.

Researchers found a correlation between the amount of country music played on the radio in areas of the US and the suicide rate in those areas, after controlling for other factors like poverty and gun ownership. Country music often deals with negative life experiences like unrequited love, alcohol abuse, poverty, etc.
The “Werther effect” shows that media coverage of suicides can lead to increased suicide rates, as people may emulate suicide methods described. A 1974 study found newspapers reports of suicides were linked to 60 additional suicides on average.
Other research has found boxing matches on TV linked to increases in murders soon after, with the rates influenced by the racial backgrounds of the boxers and victims.
Taller people are generally perceived more positively and as more successful. Studies found height correlated with higher income, reproductive success, election to presidency, and career success.
Height perceptions can change based on perceived status. In one experiment, introducing an academic to students as a professor led them to perceive him as taller than when introduced as a teaching assistant. Perceived competence influences perceived height.
Research has shown that people’s perceptions of others’ status, competence, dominance, and other traits can be influenced by context clues like job titles or election outcomes. Descriptions of a man as having increasingly higher-status jobs like lecturer to professor led people to perceive him as taller.
Studies of political candidates found voters tend to perceive the candidate they support as taller than their opponent. Candidates who won elections were seen as gaining height, while losers lost perceived height.
The author conducted a poll that found British voters perceived their preferred party leader Tony Blair as taller than the opposition leader William Hague, consistent with previous research. This perception aligned with Blair’s actual landslide election victory.
Additional research discussed how factors like facial hair style can influence perceptions of personality traits like masculinity or honesty. Clean-shaven faces may be seen as more trustworthy and competent.
Studies showed very brief exposures to candidates’ faces predicted over 70% of US Senate election outcomes, and agreement on perceived competence predicted election margins. This suggests the importance of having a “face that fits” for political success.
The author conducted a study with an expert that used computer modeling to analyze composites of US presidents’ faces by political party. They aimed to see if Democrats and Republicans unconsciously associate different personality traits with different facial features, influencing candidate selection and voter choice.
The researcher conducted an experiment on the BBC show Tomorrow’s World to test whether facial appearance influences guilt judgements.
The public acted as mock jurors and saw a trial with identical evidence but two different defendants - one with stereotypically criminal facial features, the other more innocent-looking.
Those who saw the defendant with criminal features were more likely to return a guilty verdict (40% vs 29% for the innocent-looking defendant).
Other research has also found attractive defendants receive lighter sentences than equally guilty but less attractive ones.
Plastic surgery on prisoners’ facial disfigurements reduced recidivism rates, possibly due to being less likely to be imprisoned rather than reoffending less.
Hollywood films often depict attractive characters as more likable, moral, intelligent etc. which may influence subconscious stereotypes linking appearance and positive traits.
An experiment analyzing hundreds of film characters found this stereotypical portrayal and that it could influence viewers’ associations between looks and traits.
Researchers conducted an experiment using speed dating to study what topics and conversational styles lead to the most attraction and willingness to meet again.
Over 100 single people participated in a speed dating event where they had 2-minute conversations with 10 potential partners at different tables.
At some tables, participants were instructed to discuss specific topics like hobbies, films, travel, or books. One table had no topic instructions.
After each date, participants rated their interest in meeting again. Researchers tracked which pairs wanted to reconnect.
Discussing travel led to the highest rates of interest in meeting again (18%), while films led to the lowest (9%). This is likely because travel conversations focus on shared interests while films often led to disagreements.
Women tended to make up their minds about partners faster than men (45% vs 22% within 30 seconds).
Over 60% of participants left with contact details for at least one person, showing the potential of events like this to facilitate romantic connections.

In summary, the research suggests discussing broadly appealing shared interests like travel may lead to more attraction and willingness to reconnect, while topics prone to disagreement like films are less conducive to speed dating success. It also found gender differences in how quickly initial impressions are formed.

Researchers studied opening lines used during speed dating to see what made some people more desirable than others. Failed lines included generic or boastful comments, while successful ones encouraged the other person to talk about themselves in an unusual or fun way.
The best lines from the top-rated man and woman asked questions like “If you were on a singing show, who would you be?” and “If you were a pizza topping, what would you be?” These elicited a shared funny experience that promoted closeness and attraction.
An experiment showed that pairs who did silly tasks like speaking through straws, doing dances blindfolded, or acting in made-up languages felt significantly closer and found each other more attractive.
For personal ads, ads that described the person about 70% and what they were looking for about 30% attracted the most responses, showing a balance. Men could accurately predict which ads would appeal to women, while women were inaccurate about what attracted men.
In summary, unusual, quirky, and funny questions and experiences that elicit laughter and a shared positive interaction can promote feelings of closeness and attraction between potential partners.
Jenny contacted the researcher to share that she had recently experienced love at first sight with a man she met at a party and they were now planning to marry after 6 months of dating.
This prompted the researcher to launch a two-part study on love at first sight. The first part surveyed over 600 people and found that almost 70% had experienced it, with equal numbers of men and women. 40% had experienced it multiple times and in many cases it led to long-term relationships.
The second part presented images where one had subtly enlarged pupils, meant to appear more attracted. Women who reported love at first sight were much more likely to pick the image with enlarged pupils, showing they may be especially sensitive to subtle attraction cues.
This provided preliminary evidence that love at first sight, especially for women, may stem from an enhanced ability to detect subtle nonverbal signals of attraction. The phenomenon seems to be more common than assumed and sometimes leads to long relationships.
In 2001, the researcher headed a scientific search for the world’s funniest joke by launching the LaughLab website to collect jokes and ratings from the public around the world. They hoped to understand what types of jokes different groups find funny.
The passage discusses the “superiority theory” of humor, which is the idea that people find things funny when they feel superior to the subject of the joke.
It notes that this theory dates back to ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle. Plato was concerned humor could encourage immoral behavior by laughing at others.
One of the first experimental studies on this theory was conducted in 1934, where participants found jokes disparaging other groups funnier when those groups were different from their own.
Further research has shown people laugh harder at jokes that make them feel more superior, like jokes targeting those in positions of power. However, some studies suggest superiority jokes can negatively impact perceptions of the targeted groups.
In summary, the passage explores the long-standing “superiority theory” of humor and different studies that have helped expand understanding of why people find certain jokes or situations funny. It traces the idea back to ancient philosophers and reviews key experimental research on the topic.
A study by LaughLab found that people who read Newfie jokes (jokes portraying Newfoundlanders in a negative light) subsequently rated Newfoundlanders as more inept, foolish, dim-witted, and slow. This shows how jokes can negatively influence perceptions of stereotyped groups.
Another study found that blonde women who read jokes portraying blondes as stupid scored lower on an intelligence test, indicating jokes can lower people’s confidence and performance by activating negative stereotypes.
Early LaughLab data showed men found jokes that portrayed women negatively to be funnier than women did, supporting Plato’s idea that superiority/schadenfreude plays a role in humor.
Men generally tell more jokes than women. This may be because women avoid aggressive or sexual jokes, or because historically women had lower social status and joke-telling is linked to higher status.
Freud was fascinated by humor and saw jokes as a psychological release from repressed thoughts. His famous saying was “A cigar may just be a cigar, but a joke is never just a joke.”
LaughLab staged a photoshoot with a clown lying on Freud’s actual couch at the Freud Museum to draw attention to their research on the psychology of humor.
The article discusses experiments conducted using LaughLab, a website that collected jokes and rated their funniness.
One experiment analyzed jokes related to Freudian concepts like sex, marriage, and death. The data supported Freud’s ideas that we laugh at things that cause us anxiety.
Another experiment tested if older people find jokes about aging funnier, in line with Freud’s theory of anxiety around effects of aging. The data supported this.
Jokes submitted by scientists generally scored lower than others, though one science humor expert Sir Harry Kroto submitted the winning joke.
A computer-generated pun also scored well, supporting the “incongruity theory” that puns surprise us with unexpected meanings.
Neuroscientists used fMRI brain scanning to study what happens in the brain when people laugh at puns. They carefully scanned people’s brains while reading top-rated puns.

So in summary, the article discusses various humor experiments conducted using LaughLab data to test Freudian and other theories of what makes things funny, and uses neuroscience to study the brain response to puns.

The left side of the brain plays a role in setting up the context or setup of a joke, while the right hemisphere contributes creative skills to see the situation in an unexpected, often surreal way and achieve humor. Brain scans showed activation in left hemisphere areas when viewing joke setups.
People with damage to the right hemisphere have difficulty understanding jokes as they lose the ability to recognize which incongruities are funny. However, they can still find slapstick comedy funny. Both brain hemispheres working together are needed to fully appreciate complex humor like the Marx Brothers routines.
An experiment supported the idea that the letter “k” has inherent comedy potential. A joke was more funny when it featured the word “quack” and animals associated with a “k” sound like ducks, compared to other animal sounds without “k.”
Facial feedback may explain the comedy effect of “k” - words featuring it tend to force the face into a smile, which studies link to increased humor perceptions. Contagious laughter also relates to this phenomenon.
In summary, the passage discusses theories on the brain basis of humor and factors like “k” sounds that may enhance perceived funniness, based on research from the LaughLab study and other studies on humor. It avoids directly copying or extensively summarizing copyrighted material.
The author stood on stage at a comedy club and told jokes that had tested well with British audiences, but they fell flat with the American audience, who preferred bolder and more offensive humor.
Psychologists have studied the psychological profiles of professional comedians. Some early research by Samuel Janus in the 1970s found many comedians displayed above-average intelligence but high levels of anxiety, supporting the “sad clown” stereotype.
However, later research by Seymour and Rhoda Fisher in the 1980s, including administering Rorschach inkblot tests to over 40 comedians, found little evidence of psychopathology. Comedians appeared well-adjusted despite stress and many had overcome difficult childhoods.
The Fishers found comedians were highly curious observers of human behavior and used jokes as a way to cope with distress, as evidenced by their responses to inkblots transforming threatening images into more positive ones.
In general, the research highlighted comedians’ resilience but also their motivations to gain acceptance and affection from audiences through humor. Matching the right jokes to the audience is important for comedy to succeed.
A study looked at longevity of famous comedians compared to other entertainers from similar eras and found no evidence that comedians died younger. Their causes of death also did not show excess health issues.
Historical sources from centuries ago suggested laughter and joy could aid recovery from illness. Shakespeare echoed this, saying “mirth and merriment” could prevent harms and lengthen life.
Recent research links humor/laughter with healthier immune systems, lower risk of heart attack/stroke, less pain, and living 4.5 years longer.
Studies found watching comedies decreased stress/anxiety and improved blood flow more than stressful films. Patients recovering from surgery who watched comedies used 60% fewer pain drugs.
Researchers looked at attitudes toward death/funerals and found those inclined to see humor coped better than somber individuals. Similarly, bereaved spouses who could laugh adjusted more easily.
A psychologist theorized religious fundamentalism clashes with appreciation for humor, ambiguity and uncertainty. Studies found fundamentalists less inclined to humorous responses, but exposure to comedy increased humor production more than religious videos.

In summary, the evidence presented suggests the ability to find humor in life may convey psychological and physical health benefits by reducing stress and anxiety. However, traits like religious fundamentalism were linked to a more serious mindset less open to laughter.

The study examined whether religious beliefs prevent people from using humor to cope with everyday stresses.
Some jokes submitted to the study poked fun at religious deities in incongruous ways, suggesting religious beliefs did not fully stop people from using religious humor.
The relationship between religious fundamentalism and humor production was more nuanced than the theory proposed. While some religious jokes were submitted, it’s unclear if humor was used uniformly to cope with stress.
The winning joke in the study - about a hunter calling emergency services after his friend dies - was not overtly religious. It achieved moderate humor ratings across many cultures and countries.
Comedians like Robin Williams commented that the “funniest” joke is probably offensive and wouldn’t be publicly shared. Different types of humor appeal to different groups.

So in summary, while some religious jokes were shared, the study did not conclusively show that religious beliefs universally prevent the use of humor for stress relief. The relationship between religion and humor appears more complex.

Professor Richard LaPiere conducted an experiment in the 1930s where he traveled across the US with a Chinese couple. At hotels and restaurants along the way, the couple was treated politely when asking for service, contradicting the prejudice of the time.
Later, LaPiere sent questionnaires to the same establishments asking if they would accept Chinese people. Over 90% responded no, showing people act differently than their stated attitudes.
Professor John Trinkaus spent decades observing ordinary human behavior. His research included topics like sneaker colors, weather forecast accuracy, and declining baseball cap trends.
Trinkaus found most people chose the number 37 when asked to name an odd number between 10-50, and 68 for an even number between 50-100, showing predictability.
He discovered about 75% of attaché case owners had not changed the default lock combinations. This predictability was also exploited by physicist Richard Feynman.
Trinkaus researched why single gloves often vanish, finding left gloves disappeared more than right ones, possibly because people remove the right glove first and push it into their pocket on top of the left.
Researchers tracked teaspoons used in communal kitchens over 5 months. 80% went missing, half within the first 81 days. A survey found 36% admitted stealing teaspoons before, 18% in the last year.
This suggests teaspoons are being stolen by people, not disappearing into another dimension. Extrapolating the rate, 18 million teaspoons could go missing each year in Melbourne alone.
The researcher Trinkaus studied minor acts of dishonesty like taking more items than allowed in express checkout lines. In 1993, 85% of shoppers did this at a supermarket, rising to 93% by 2002.
Trinkaus also noticed some paying for items in groups to get through express lines. When followed, 80% of these rule-breakers were found to be female van drivers.
Other studies by Trinkaus linked female van drivers to higher rates of speeding, failing to stop at stop signs, parking illegally, etc. suggesting they may be ahead of moral decline trends.
A TV program tested public honesty by giving unexpected extra money at ATMs and in stores. Most people kept the excess money even when mistakes were emphasized, suggesting low levels of honesty.
Researchers conducted an experiment where they overpaid customers at a newsagent shop by mistake (giving change for £10 instead of £5, or £20 instead of £10) to see if people would own up to the mistake. Very few people did - most took the excess money without saying anything.
Only one person pointed out the cashier’s mistake. He said he was a Christian and didn’t want to keep the money.
Later, outside the shop, researchers posing as market researchers asked people questions about honesty. People were evasive when asked if they would return excess change received by mistake.
The experiment was then repeated at a small corner shop rather than a large chain. This time around half the people returned the excess change, suggesting people are less willing to take advantage of a small local business than a large company.
The findings suggest that while most claim to be honest, many will take money unintentionally given to them. However, subtle cues like similarity to the owner can influence whether people behave ethically or unethically.

The key question is: based on the passage, what question would the researchers have asked the customer to determine the value of the note they had used?

The researchers would have asked the customer the denomination or value of the note they had used to pay (e.g. was it a £5 note or £10 note).

Stanley Milgram conducted an experiment to test whether viewing violent or antisocial behavior on TV influences people’s own behavior.
He worked with CBS to create alternative endings to an episode of the TV show Medical Center, where a character either did or did not steal money from donation boxes.
CBS broadcast the different versions to audiences in New York and St. Louis. Viewers were then told to go to a “gift distribution center” to get a prize, but it was actually a staged room with hidden cameras.
The room contained an overflowing charity donation box to see if those who saw the theft on TV were more likely to take money. It also had a notice saying no more prizes were available, to elicit frustration.
The experiment aimed to see if viewing antisocial behavior on TV made people more likely to engage in similar criminal acts, like stealing from the donation box, when given the opportunity. This tested the influence of TV on prosocial vs. antisocial real-world behavior.
Stanley Milgram conducted several experiments in the 1960s to test whether viewing antisocial or prosocial behavior on television would influence real-world behaviors.
In one study in New York and St. Louis, people who saw an episode where a character was punished for stealing were slightly more honest than those who saw an episode where stealing went unpunished. However, the effects were small.
Milgram also tried having people watch episodes and then immediately test their behaviors, but this experiment had to be terminated due to high levels of antisocial behavior by participants.
Milgram developed a technique called “envelope dropping” to gauge public opinion anonymously. He would drop envelopes addressed to various organizations and measure return rates. This showed people were less likely to return envelopes addressed to pro-Nazi or pro-Communist groups.
Psychologists have used modified versions of this technique since to study issues like racial prejudice, elections, religious group attitudes, and levels of altruism across communities. It remains a clever method to indirectly measure opinions on sensitive topics.
One study used envelope dropping to compare attitudes of liberal, conservative, and Catholic churchgoers. Rates of returning unstamped envelopes, requiring postage, suggested liberals and Catholics were more altruistic than conservatives.
Psychologists conducted experiments on helping behavior by staging scenarios where people needed assistance (e.g. dropping items, pretending to be injured). They measured how many passersby stopped to help.
Studies found that people in small towns were most helpful, while those in large cities like New York and Los Angeles were least helpful. Rural areas in the South were most assistive, urban Northeast areas least.
Experiments were conducted internationally, finding Rio de Janeiro, San Jose and Lilongwe to have the most helpful populations. Singapore, New York and Kuala Lumpur ranked lowest.
Higher population densities correlated with less helping, possibly due to “sensory overload” in cities bombarding people’s attention.
The researchers measured walking speeds, postal transaction times and pace of restaurant meals to quantify the “speed of life” in different cities and countries. Faster speeds were linked to offering less assistance.
The studies reveal differences between professing helpful values versus enacting them in situations requiring urgent assistance from passersby. Population and lifestyle factors like density and pace influenced real-world helping behaviors.
Levine conducted research measuring the “speed of life” in various cities around the world. He looked at accuracy of bank clocks, walking speed of pedestrians, and speed of service at post offices.
His research found that Switzerland had the fastest pace of life, followed by Ireland and Germany. Western European countries dominated the top spots. The slowest countries were in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Cities with a faster pace of life had higher smoking rates and more coronary heart disease. Factors like walking speed and watch-wearing predicted heart disease rates. A fast pace may attract “Type A” personalities or cause stress.
Other research found more individualistic cultures like the US and UK showed less helping behavior than more collectivist cultures like Indonesia and China. Community environment also impacts antisocial behavior - a used car was quickly stripped in New York but left alone in community-oriented Palo Alto.
Small requests can encourage a sense of social responsibility and willingness to help the community. Getting people to agree to minor tasks made them more likely to agree to larger ones later. Creating a feeling of community engagement can promote cooperation.
In summary, Levine’s research studied differences in pace of life internationally and linked faster rates to negative health outcomes. Other studies examined the impact of culture and community on prosocial vs antisocial behaviors.
The author conducted an experiment along with a science editor to study what people’s choice of greeting cards reveals about their personality. Over 1000 people took a personality test and chose their preferred Christmas card type from 6 options.
Strong relationships were found between personality traits and card preferences. For example, those drawn to modern cards tended to be extraverted and unconventional, while religious card preference correlated with emotional stability and organization.
Factors like introversion/extroversion helped explain card preferences based on research suggesting different brain arousal levels. Introverts prefer less stimulating traditional scenes while extroverts seek stimulation from bright modern designs.
The study also found women send twice as many cards than men, possibly reflecting personality differences in agreeableness.
The findings demonstrate the complex psychology underlying simple traditions and have motivated further research like exploring Santa’s childhood motivations.
The author has conducted many unusual experiments, including a huge worldwide study timing walking speeds in cities that showed most places have accelerated pacing of life since the 1990s.

Here is a summary of the key points about Cairo Egypt from the passage:

Cairo, Egypt is ranked 25th out of 32 cities in terms of pace of life/walking speed based on an experiment measuring how long it takes people to walk 60 feet.
This suggests Cairo has a relatively slower pace of life compared to other cities on the list.

Unfortunately there are no other details provided about Cairo in the passage. The passage focuses on summarizing the results of the “pace of life” experiment and ranking different cities, but does not include any other context about Cairo specifically.

The passage thanks several people who contributed to the author’s research and book. It acknowledges collaborators who helped conduct studies on topics like séance experiments, brain scanning, measuring happiness in London, and exploring supposedly haunted locations. The author’s agents and editors who helped publish the book are also thanked. Researchers who carried out hundreds of strange studies described in the book, as well as millions of participants, are thanked for their contributions without which the book would have been different. The author singles out a few collaborators for special praise, like Caroline Watt who helped design most studies and provided support. In conclusion, the passage expresses gratitude to all those involved in the research and book production.

Here is a summary of pages 256-265 in the provided text:

This section discusses research on the detection of lies and deception. It reviews studies looking at how age affects lying ability, techniques for detecting deception like having people draw letters on their forehead, and opinions on who can best detect lies. Footnotes provide references for works discussing detecting deception through verbal, facial and paralinguistic cues. Other research examined how culture influences lying and deception. Additional studies investigated creating false memories through misleading photographs and advertising. Works examining the suggestibility of memories and how magic tricks can be used to implant false memories are also referenced. Research on the formation and implantation of false childhood memories in explored. Overall, this section reviews a wide range of academic literature focused on understanding and detecting deception and the creation of false memories.

Here are brief summaries of some of the references without reproducing copyrighted material:

Reference 29 discusses a survey of coincidence experiences.
Reference 30 summarizes Milgram’s famous experiments on obedience to authority which involved instructing participants to deliver what they believed were electric shocks.
Reference 34 describes the “small world” phenomenon where any two people are connected by only a small number of intermediate acquaintances.
References 38-40 discuss alleged ghost sightings and paranormal experiences, and factors that can induce such context-dependent experiences.
References 42-43 examine how ancient stone structures may have been designed to produce acoustic effects and whether they could have been used for sound-related rituals.

I have aimed to highlight the topics and ideas discussed without reproducing significant excerpts due to copyright concerns, as you instructed. Please let me know if you would like me to elaborate on any of the summaries.

Here is a summary of the provided sources without directly copying copyrighted material:

The sources discuss perceptions of height, attractiveness and political success. One study found people perceive the heights of politicians differently depending on whether they support them or not. Other research looked at connections between things like beardedness, facial features and perceptions of competence as relating to election outcomes.

Additional references examined the roles of humor and laughter in relationships, interactions and health. Sources proposed humor can build intimacy and relieve stress. The psychological benefits of humor and ability to find humor in difficult situations were also discussed.

Some references specifically involved analyses of jokes targeting social or ethnic groups. Other works studied gender differences in humor routines and joke content across cultures. Religion’s influence on humor creation was another topic addressed.

The concept of laughing epidemics occurring in isolated communities was referenced. Biographical analyses of comedians highlighted common personality traits. Studies proposed humor and laughter may boost immune system functioning and longevity.

I have aimed to discuss the key topics and ideas addressed while avoiding copying lengthy excerpts, full jokes or lyrics per your instructions. Please let me know if you would like me to elaborate on any part of the summary. I’m happy to discuss the sources further without violating copyright.

Here is a brief summary of the key points from the sources provided:

Several studies looked at compliance with store policies like checkout lane item limits and stop signs. They took informal observational approaches to gauge behavior.
Other research examined tone and content of bumper stickers, direction of baseball caps, and reactions to stereotypes. Studies used unobtrusive methods like traffic citations or surveys.
Additional work investigated pace of life in different cities using measures like walking speed. It found some places like Singapore and Copenhagen had faster paces than New York or Blantyre.
Astrology claims like the “Mars effect” were analyzed in relation to conditions like success in sports or rates of mass murderers. However, the evidence for astrology predictions was questionable.
Several experiments employed lost letter techniques or observational methods to study helping behavior and responses to lost articles in different locations or contexts. Reactions varied based on factors like religion, similarity, and emergency.
Other topics briefly alluded to include nonverbal cues in debates, effects of media on behavior, comparisons of humor styles across cultures, and analyses of laughter in counseling. Observational, survey and experimental methods were frequently used.

My goal was to summarize the key topics and approaches while avoiding reproduction of full passages, lyrics or extended extracts from the sources provided. Please let me know if you would like me to elaborate on any part of the summary.

Here are summaries of the requested items:

Casablanca (movie) - Romantic drama film set in 1942 in Casablanca, Morocco during World War II. Focuses on an American expatriate and former lover of a woman who is now married to a resistance leader. Features iconic scenes and dialogue in a plot involving escaping occupied Europe for America. Won several Academy Awards.

Catch Me If You Can (movie) - Biographical crime film based on the life of Frank Abagnale Jr. who successfully committed check fraud worth millions of dollars between the ages of 16 and 21 while impersonating various professionals. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Abagnale as he stays one step ahead of an FBI agent (played by Tom Hanks) attempting to arrest him.

Catholic churches, helpfulness of - No summary found. This seems to be referring to a potential study or research on how helpful Catholic churches are compared to other religious groups.

CBS (TV) - Major American commercial broadcast television and radio network. One of the “Big Three” major networks along with ABC and NBC. Home to various news programs, sitcoms, dramas and other programming. Known for its initialism letters logo.

Chamberlain, Neville - British Prime Minister from 1937 to 1940 who pursued a policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany. His signing of the Munich Agreement allowing Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland region led to criticism that he had appeased Adolf Hitler, although war was averted at the time. Resigned after Germany invaded Norway and Denmark.

Chicken costume - No summary found. Presumably referring to someone wearing a chicken costume, perhaps as a prank, comedy act or other context.

Children - No summary provided for this broad topic. Could cover various aspects of childhood, development, parenting, education, etc.

China - East Asian country with one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Ruled as an authoritarian socialist state with a population of over 1.4 billion people. Has a long history, diverse geography, and is a rising global economic and military power. Has undergone rapid modernization while still maintaining cultural traditions.

Christmas - Christian religious holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Observed annually on December 25th as a significant cultural, religious and commercial event in many places around the world. Traditions include decorated trees/homes, exchange of gifts, religious services, meals with family/friends.

Churchill, Winston - British statesman and prime minister from 1940 to 1945 and 1951 to 1955. Led Britain to victory in World War II against Nazi Germany. Noted for his rousing oratory and promotion of British patriotism. Helped shape the post-war world order. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Considered one of the great wartime leaders in history.

Cities - Type of human settlement with a high population density and infrastructure of residential, commercial, and cultural structures and facilities to support it. They can vary in size from small towns to megacities and play a key role economically, socially and culturally in both developed and developing nations.

Clowns - Comedic performers that act as fools or clumsy characters for the purpose of entertainment and amusement particularly at circuses, magic shows, and children’s events. Known for their colorful costumes and makeup including wigs and exaggerated features. Traditional “clowns” seek to provoke laughter through pantomime, pratfalls, and silly antics.

Comedians - Entertainers who present humorous performances to audiences. May tell jokes and create sketches. Historically range in style from bawdy slapstick to subtle observational humor. Successful comedians are skilled at crowd work, improvising and playing off audience reactions. Comedy pushes social/cultural boundaries through parody, irony and absurdity.

Here is a brief, careful summary of the key points without reproducing copyrighted material:

Studies have looked at traits associated with certain astrological signs and predictions about personality. Results are mixed as to accuracy.
Research examines beliefs in areas like lucky numbers, days, superstitions about hospitals and birthdays. Findings show some beliefs are more common than others.
Pace of life has been compared in different cities, with most finding Western cities tend to move faster than others. Population density may also play a role.
Various jokes, humor styles and what triggers laughter have been evaluated across demographic groups and cultures. Incongruity and social elements often contribute to what causes amusement.
Lying behavior and subtle cues for deception have interested researchers. Studies analyze both verbal and nonverbal signals like eye contact or descriptions used. Detecting lies remains challenging.
Names, initials and surnames have been linked to certain life outcomes in areas like careers or relationships. However, effects are often small and complicated by many other influencing factors as well.
Cross-cultural differences in perceived helpfulness have led to investigations of urban versus rural communities and population sizes. Variations exist but understanding context is important.

I have aimed to cover the key topics and perspectives while avoiding reproduction of lengthy excerpts or directions that could enable copyrighted reuse of creative works. Please let me know if any part of the summary would benefit from further explanation or clarification.

Here is a brief summary of some topics mentioned without reproducing copyrighted material:

Mat Gan, Israel - discusses superstition and stress levels in this city
Ronald and Nancy Reagan - former U.S. president and first lady
Plato’s Republic - addresses democracy and justice
Tip levels at restaurants
Scientist’s sense of humor - whether they have one
Self-deception and lying in memories
Charitable behavior varying by location
Birth month effects on personality traits
Hypothesis on subliminal messages in media
Studies on similarity and helping behavior
Jokes about different occupations and stereotypes
Research on unlucky beliefs and behaviors
Experiments on judging time and psychological impacts
Traffic rules and influences on compliance
Cultural norms around gifts, gestures and greetings

I aimed to briefly characterize topics mentioned without reproducing significant copyrighted text or violating permissions. Please let me know if you would like me to elaborate on any part of the summary.

#book-summary

Quirkology - Richard Wiseman