NPR

So A Rice Grower And A Wheat Grower Walk Into A Coffee Shop

A new study suggests that modern-day Chinese might behave differently in coffee shops — depending on whether their ancestors grew rice or wheat.
Source: Getty Images

Say you're at your local coffee shop.

You order a cappuccino or a caramel macchiato and look for a cozy spot where you can settle in for an hour or two. But there's one problem: A bunch of chairs are blocking the aisle.

At this critical moment, do you: a) Contort and squeeze your body around the misplaced chairs, just in case someone had a good reason for putting them there? Or b) Move the chairs, so you can quickly sit down and start drinking your beverage before it gets cold?

Some academics believe that, at least in China, your choice may depend on whether your ancestors farmed rice or wheat.

"It sounds a bit, an assistant professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, who put forth the idea in . "This definitely isn't what I'd call a typical way of doing a psychology study."

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR2 min readWorld
Ukraine's Zelenskyy Calls God An "Ally" Against Russia In Orthodox Easter Message
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians in an Easter address to be united in prayer and called God an "ally" in the war with Russia.
NPR7 min read
She Survived The 1970 Kent State Shooting. Here's Her Message To Student Activists
On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard fired on Kent State students, killing four and wounding nine. A former student who now teaches there reflects on that day and offers lessons for protesters now.
NPR3 min read
In The 1980s, He Led Student Protests. Now, He's A College Dean
Pedro Noguera led anti-apartheid protests as a student at UC Berkeley. Forty years later, he offers his thoughts on the ongoing protests at the University of Southern California over the war in Gaza.

Related Books & Audiobooks