bramflakes comments on To like each other, sing and dance in synchrony - Less Wrong

20 Post author: Kaj_Sotala 23 April 2012 01:30PM

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Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 23 April 2012 03:12:34PM 7 points [-]

Singing in synchrony, even if the song is an out-group anthem ("O Canada", when the subjects were USA residents), causes more trust and and greater feelings of being on the same team, as well as an increased willingness to cooperate in a public goods game.

Not that I disagree with the conclusion, but I would hazard that a lot of US residents consider Canada a part of 'us' - not the USA, but very friendly. Try substituting a national anthem for a country that typical US citizens aren't really aware of - Bhutan, say. For bonus points, use the anthem of the international communist party.

Comment author: bramflakes 23 April 2012 05:20:05PM 6 points [-]

Aren't national anthems designed from the ground-up to trigger this sort of emotional reaction anyway?