Checking the psychological experiments of the past is an idea that brought together psychologists from 12 countries in The “Many Labs” Replication project. The test results have already cast doubt on many well-known hypotheses.
Here are some of the theories that have been refuted:
1. The “Romeo and Juliet” effect does not exist: the intervention of parents in relationships between lovers does not increase mutual trust in a couple.
2. Belief in talismans does not affect the performance of an athlete on the field.
3. The feeling of bodily cleanliness does not necessarily cause a feeling of inner cleansing.
4. The hypothesis that men are more likely to experience sexual infidelity than emotional infidelity has not been confirmed. This effect was found to be very weak, especially among adult men.
5. Pleasant music playing in the store does not affect whether a potential buyer will like the product and his decision to buy it.
* Social Psychology, 2014, vol. 45.