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Comment by tylervigen

2 years ago

Why does this paper defy common sense?

That the effect is so large should draw a lot of suspicion. Real psychological effects almost never have that magnitude.

The claim that heavily vetted, highly educated judges are reliably just throwing out punishments willy-nilly because they want a snack is also quite suspect, especially as there is no reason to expect this to only work in one direction- why wouldn't they be just as willing to let people off easy when that gets them to lunch just as quickly?

  • > just throwing out punishments willy-nilly because they want a snack

    That's not the claim.

    https://www.nbcnews.com/better/pop-culture/science-behind-be...

    • It is true that being hungry makes you irritable. But that irritability is a component of wanting a snack, and the claim is that the feeling of wanting a snack was responsible for a judge denying parole across the board to all candidates, among whom ostensibly 67% deserved parole.

      I assume we've both felt hungry for too long. I do feel annoyed and frustrated, maybe I make a rude remark or snap at someone. It is not my belief that it is a feeling powerful enough to make me carry out a massive miscarriage of justice and ruin people's lives for years to come. And I expect judges typically have more willpower than me.

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