Do you like to use the self-checkout at the grocery store? Have you ever wondered why there's a mirror on the machine? It's not so you can check your makeup. If you said it's to deter customers from stealing, you're right. But probably not for the reason you think. There's not a sneaky little camera behind it watching you bag your bananas without paying for them. The mirror serves as a psychological anti-theft device. The idea is that customers thinking about stealing items would catch a glimpse of themselves in the mirror and feel guilty about their actions. The psychology goes back to an old study from 1976 that suggested people who are in a “self-aware” situation, like being in front of a mirror, are less likely to engage in bad behavior like stealing.
Source: NY Post
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