Breadcrumb
Do the Prosocial Effects of Watching Eyes Extend to Shopping Cart Return?
Presentation Year
2026
Farin
Haight
Undergraduate Student
Psychology
College or Department
College of Professional Studies
Short Description of your Research or Creative Project (700 characters or less)
Watching eyes are powerful stimuli–they quickly capture attention and evoke physiological arousal. Humans are particularly adept at perceiving another’s gaze, and can even be affected by watching eyes that they are not consciously aware of. Recent research suggests that watching eye cues can promote a variety of low-cost prosocial behaviors, inside and outside lab settings. The presence of eye images may alter behavior by reducing feelings of anonymity and cueing reputation maintenance concerns. The current study investigated whether the presence of watching-eye images affected how frequently shoppers returned carts to designated return areas.
Permission to Publish Work
Yes
Presentation File Upload
Primary Contact: First Name
Caitlyn
Primary Contact: Last Name
Spampinato
Primary Contact: Email
cgs62@humboldt.edu
Primary Contact: I am a
Undergraduate Student
Primary Contact: Phone Number
8054439095
Indicate File Dimensions
4'x3'