Springs - Arab and otherwise
"An old man sat on the sidewalk, placed a hat in front of his crossed legs, and a sign next to them that read: 'I am blind. Please help me,' " my student began.
An Egyptian psychologist, Professor Saleh, along with two other visiting professors, was taking English lessons funded by a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development. The professors were to publish in an American journal during a nine-month stay in the United States, and I was to help them make sure their writing was appropriately polished.
This day's content focused on behavioral conditioning. Professor Saleh, eager to contribute his expertise to the lesson, leaned forward in his chair, easing into the more familiar role of professor.
"The old man continued like this for days," he went on. "He sat there collecting only pennies until one day, he noticed his hat was filled to the brim. He wondered what was different about today - not a national holiday, nor a religious celebration - and asked a person near him to read his sign out loud.
"This is what was read back to him: 'We are in spring. Enjoy its beauty.' "
According to the professor, a behavioral expert had changed the old man's sign that day, drawing on his knowledge that people respond better to optimism than they do to appeals for pity.... READ MORE
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