Believing You Are Very Good Or Evil Boosts Your Physical Capabilities

Research by Kurt Gray, a doctoral student in psychology at Harvard, shows that a person's capacity for willpower and physical endurance increases if they perceive themselves as good or evil. "Evil" acts in particular give a person a large boost in physical strength. From the article: “'People perceive those who do good and evil to have more efficacy, more willpower, and less sensitivity to discomfort,' Gray said. 'By perceiving themselves as good or evil, people embody these perceptions, actually becoming more capable of physical endurance.' Gray’s findings run counter to the notion that only those blessed with heightened willpower or self-control are capable of heroism, suggesting instead that simply attempting heroic deeds can confer personal power."

Midichlorian testing to come soon

[Drakkenmensch]

The force is strong in this one.

Playing your alignment?

[Pojut]

What if you are Neutral Neutral...would you just collapse in a heap of jello?

Re:Playing your alignment?

[XanC]

What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power?

In related news...

[Kral_Blbec]

science discovers adrenaline. Story at 5

Re:Playing your alignment?

[Pojut]

What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power?

Feh. A man doesn't lust; a man takes. ::fends off the feminists:: I'm just playing my character's alignment! Chauvinist/neutral.

Oh, Great

[StefanJ]

Now the Olympics are going to look like a convention of superheroes and supervillains, with each athlete alignment-doping him or herself with more and more outrageous costumes, posturing, and pre-event monologues.

"Sure, he hurled the discus five miles, but did he really have to soak it in the blood of five virgins and dedicate his performance to All-Mighty Set?"

Re:Playing your alignment?

[Anonymous Coward]

Your neutralness, it's a beige alert.

If I don't survive, tell my wife I said, "hello."

Re:Old as dirt.

[hedwards]

That text is most wise, much of it though is common sense to those with a knowledge of combat. Personally, I prefer Zapp Brannigan's Big Book of War.

Re:Oh, Great

[sorak]

So the Olympics will turn into pro-wrestling?

Re:Playing your alignment?

[0xdeadbeef]

::fends off the feminists::

No, that won't make them touch you, either.

Chaotic Neutral?

[ctchristmas]

So switching my lvl 7 dark elf warrior from chaotic neutral to evil gives a str bonus?

Re:Oh, Great

[TheCarp]

yes but without all the top notch acting and special effects.

Re:Midichlorian testing to come soon

[Cicada7]

"Any significantly advanced technology..", yadda yadda, you all know the quote.

To anyone living prior to the 1900's, television, the internet, cell phones.. they'd all be magic. You could certainly try to explain the technology away, but likely the explination would also be significantly advanced enough to be percieved as magic. Electron tunneling whoosawhatsits? I just wants my fancy movin' picture porn to come on over the tubes and light up my screen!

Re:Oh, Great

[mrheckman]

How much evil can an Olympic athlete do before it is considered "doping"?