“The differences are dramatic. After tracking thousands of civil servants for decades, Marmot was able to demonstrate that between the ages of 40 and 64, workers at the bottom of the hierarchy had a mortality rate four times higher than that of people at the top. Even after accounting for genetic risks and behaviors like smoking and binge drinking, civil servants at the bottom of the pecking order still had nearly double the mortality rate of those at the top.”
It was interesting that most of the commenters were opposed to the idea of a stress vaccine, though their reasons didn’t seem very good.
I’m wondering whether the vaccine would mean that people would be more inclined to accept low status (it’s less painful) or less inclined to accept low status (more energy, less pessimism.)
I also wonder how much of the stress from low status is from objectively worse conditions (less benign stimulus, worse schedules, more noise, etc.) as distinct from less control, and whether there’s a physical basis for the inclination to crank up stress on subordinates.
Wired has unusually crappy commentators; YouTube quality. I wouldn’t put much stock in their reactions.
I’m wondering whether the vaccine would mean that people would be more inclined to accept low status (it’s less painful) or less inclined to accept low status (more energy, less pessimism.)
/blatant speculation
Stress response evolved for fight-or-flight—baboons and chimps fight nasty. Not for thinking or health. Reduce that, and like mindfulness meditation, one can think better and solve one’s problems better.
is from objectively worse conditions
IIRC, the description made it sound like the study controlled for conditions—comparing clerical work with controlling bosses to clerical work sans controlling bosses.
“Under Pressure: The Search for a Stress Vaccine” http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/07/ff_stress_cure/all/1
It was interesting that most of the commenters were opposed to the idea of a stress vaccine, though their reasons didn’t seem very good.
I’m wondering whether the vaccine would mean that people would be more inclined to accept low status (it’s less painful) or less inclined to accept low status (more energy, less pessimism.)
I also wonder how much of the stress from low status is from objectively worse conditions (less benign stimulus, worse schedules, more noise, etc.) as distinct from less control, and whether there’s a physical basis for the inclination to crank up stress on subordinates.
Wired has unusually crappy commentators; YouTube quality. I wouldn’t put much stock in their reactions.
/blatant speculation
Stress response evolved for fight-or-flight—baboons and chimps fight nasty. Not for thinking or health. Reduce that, and like mindfulness meditation, one can think better and solve one’s problems better.
IIRC, the description made it sound like the study controlled for conditions—comparing clerical work with controlling bosses to clerical work sans controlling bosses.
Oh come on, they’re bad, but they’re not YouTube bad.
One mention is of unsupportive bosses and the other is of mean bosses. I think we need more detail to find out what is actually meant.