Wallets with baby photos are the easiest to “find again””

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Scientists have discovered that lost wallets containing a photo of a baby are more likely to be returned to their owners. Last year, researchers placed 240 wallets on the streets of Edinburgh to see how many would be returned. Some of these wallets contained one of four types of photos: a baby, a cute puppy, a family photo, or a portrait of an elderly couple. Other wallets contained a card indicating that the owner had recently made a charitable donation, while the control group consisted of wallets without any additional items. Professor Richard Wiseman, a psychologist who supervised the experiment, said that 42% of the wallets were returned in total. Those containing a photo of the baby were most likely to prompt honest behavior on the part of those who found them, with 88% of such wallets being returned; those with photos of puppies had a 53% return rate. Among those with family photos, 48% were returned, while only 28% of those with photos of elderly couples were returned. Wallets containing charity cards and those in the control group were the least likely to be returned, with return rates of 20% and 15% respectively. Professor Wiseman from the University of Hertfordshire said, “Babies evoke a sense of care in people, which isn’t surprising from an evolutionary perspective. We were amazed by the high percentage of wallets that were returned.” The wallets were placed randomly, about a quarter of a mile apart. The photos were placed in clear plastic windows inside the wallets, and none of the wallets contained any money. Recent research shows that lost wallets with photos of babies are the most likely to be recovered. Last year, researchers scattered 240 wallets on the streets of Edinburgh to see how many could be returned to their owners. Some of these wallets contained photos of a baby, a pet dog, a family portrait, or an elderly couple. Some wallets also contained certification cards showing the owner’s recent charitable donations, while the wallets in the control group did not have any such additions. Professor Richard Wiseman, the lead researcher and psychologist, said that 42% of the wallets were returned. Wallets with baby photos prompted the most honest responses from finders, with a return rate of 88%, followed closely by those with pet dog photos, with a return rate of 53%. 48% of the wallets with family photos were sent back to the address, while the return rate for wallets with photos of an elderly couple was only 28%. The return rates for wallets containing charity cards and those in the control group were the lowest, at 20% and 15% respectively. Professor Whitman of Hertford University said, “Babies evoke feelings of care, and from an evolutionary perspective, this is not surprising at all.” ” “We are surprised that the wallet return rate is so high. ” These wallets were randomly placed at intervals of about 0.25 miles. The photos were placed in the transparent plastic compartments of the wallets, and no cash was kept inside any of the wallets. Reposted from Hai Ci Happy English, for sharing among Hai friends