Blog Post #4

 Week 4

Sense: Smell

Studies have indicated that scent has a direct effect on the emotions that we feel. For example, a study (refer to this link if you want to read more!) by Spike Lee and Norbert Schwarz indicated that we actually associate fishy smells with suspicious behavior. When people were paired together to play a game and there was a slightly fishy odor, people played in a way that decreased cooperation and increased mistrust. This study also analyzed to see if this was unique to fishy smells or generally foul odors. It concluded that even when other bad scents were present, partners only acted suspiciously when the room had a fishy scent.  We hear all of these sayings in passing, but the reality is, maybe these sayings have an edge of truth to them. Perhaps, if something does smell fishy, there is something fishy going on. Be careful!