Scientists Found a Weird Way to Make People Kinder: Add Batman

A new study has found that people are more likely to act kind towards others when Batman is present – and not for the reasons you might assume.

It may sound like a full-throated attempt to score an Ig Nobel Prize , but the study is actually an intriguing exploration of what inspires people towards prosocial behavior .

Psychologists from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Italy conducted experiments on the Milan metro to see who, if anyone, might offer their seat to a pregnant passenger.

The kicker? Sometimes Batman was there – or at least, another experimenter dressed as him. The researchers were checking if people were more likely to give up their seat in the presence of the caped crusader.

And sure enough, there did seem to be a correlation. In 138 different experim