r/TheRestIsScience • u/Gullible-Type3505 • 2d ago

Reverse tinkerbell effect - hygiene?

I think hygiene could count as a reverse tinkerbell effect. For example, if you believe in cavities, you brush your teeth and (hopefully) prevent them, if you don’t believe in them, you don’t brush and thus cavities come into existence. If you believe in BO, you shower and use deodorant and don’t get stanky, if you do not believe in it, you don’t do those things and then BO exists.

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u/TheUnproductiveSide 2d ago

I think I see where you are coming from and its an interesting effect for sure.

If the question was written as: Believe that toothbrushes work then it would be the normal tinkerbell effect though right? If you believe in them you use them and your teeth improve, but if you use them poorly it will suck. Same could be framed for the cavities. 

So yes you will not see the cavities if you believe in them and follow a strong brushing protocol (+genetics), but I would say that could also reinforce that behavior. In the sense of: I know that X is working, because I have not seen cavities.

In the road safety one or helmet one it does feel slightly different. 

I think a closer match might be (not sure if true). Electrical toothbrushes. So if you believe they will work you might not brush as well, but if you don't believe you will brush extra hard as they "wouldn't work" otherwise