Watercooler Stories

MEN LOOKING FOR EARNING POTENTIAL

Grand Valley State University researchers in Allendale, Mich., find men are paying as much attention to a potential spouse's education and earning potential as they are her looks.

In an analysis of engagement announcements, the researchers find that in 1980 men had more education than their future wives, but by 2002 women were more likely to be college graduates.

In terms of attractiveness, the study shows women "married down" in both 1980 and 2002.

Sonia Dalmia, of Grand Valley's Seidman School of Business, notes physical attractiveness and education are often considered to be substitutable and thus tradable characteristics in marriage choices.

MANY WORKERS DON'T TRUST MANAGEMENT

"One of biggest drivers in commitment to the company is trust in senior management," says Ilene Gochman, of Watson Wyatt, which surveyed employees about ethical behavior.

While 56 percent agree that top brass at their companies act in an honest manner, 16 percent strongly disagree with that sentiment, CNN/Money reports.

Of those who say their boss isn't honest, only 3 percent say it's because of dishonest financial deals, while 67 percent say it's because of hypocrisy.

The survey finds more than 50 percent of employees think management is: hypocritical, dishonest, shows favoritism and breaks promises.

APPLE AD IS STILL THE GOLD STANDARD

A Purdue University marketing expert says this year's Super Bowl ads will be the most expensive of all time -- an average of $2.25 million for a 30-second spot.

There are only a few slots left of the 62 available for the Feb. 1 game.

James Oakley, a Krannert School of Management assistant professor of marketing, also says that pop culture historians may note this is the 20th anniversary of what many consider the best Super Bowl ad of all time.

The long, futuristic Apple Macintosh ad ran only once during the 1984 Super Bowl. "It's now only seen at film festivals and at film schools," he says.

ENVIRONMENT AFFECTS RATS' MOOD

Rats housed in unpredictable conditions appear to have a more negative outlook than those housed in stable, settled conditions, finds a study by the Bristol University Veterinary School in England.

The study, published in Nature, finds that whether an animal anticipates that something good or bad is going to happen can provide a clue as to the emotion it may be experiencing.

Research has shown that anxious and depressed people tend to expect bad things to happen -- they see the glass as half empty rather than half full.

"The animal's judgments show parallels with the negative outlook seen in some depressed people, suggesting that a disrupted home life also disrupts their mood state," says study author Emma Harding.