The idea of free candy gets burned into our minds early in childhood. We all learn of that one wondrous holiday when we could dress up in weird costumes and terrify our neighbors into giving us treats. When we grow up, we’re told not to expect the same kind of free handouts in the real world, but there’s one place where this lives on: the office candy dish.
Julie’s Health Club over at the Chicago Tribune has done a brief psychological study of those who partake in free office candy. There are “takers” (those who pick up a few pieces of candy but never refill it) and there are “givers” (those who choose to refill the dish or jar without taking any themselves). And it seems that human beings are predictable when it comes to candy, choosing their treats via brand (the one who only takes Reese’s Mini-cups) or number (the one who never takes more than two at a time when they pass by the dish). It’s kind of like a watering hole in the African savanna: an entire cross-section of office workers gather around this jar on specific days of the week, and it’s the easiest area to study all of them at once.
Just as surprising as the taker’s mentality is the giver’s mentality. Apparently you can tell a lot about a person by what kind of jar they use to place the candy in and where the jar is placed.
3. The Out of Reach candy jar.
This jar is inaccessible unless you move a chair. It’s taunting because there is never any hope of getting any candy. She seems like she wants to share, but doesn’t put it in a place where people can dart in, steal, and get out quickly.
I’m kind of reminded of The Office episode where Dwight sticks his entire hand in the candy jar and rummages around for black jelly beans. Once he leaves, Pam is so grossed out by this that she empties the entire jar into the trash. Any other weird or surprising occurrences around the office candy dish where you work?
More candy articles about: candy, sweets, The Office, office, jar, jars
I really like this article! ^_^ I also enjoyed the original article– fascinating!
I was intrigued at how it sounds like the greediest candy-takers were the ones who never helped replenish the candy dish. I’ve found this to be true when I bring in candy, too. The person who eats the most candy complains about it the most!
December 31st, 2006 at 5:22 pmI like it when you discover new things about people by things that they do.
I was hoping there would be even more descriptions of candy dish types and placements. I’d love to read more articles like this! I was working on a candy-personailty “quiz”, and this reminded me I need to continue working on it! o.O!
I am fairly new at my job and I recently decided to put a candy bowl on my desk in hopes recipricating friendly feelins amongst coworkers.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:31 pmI found that while most people will come by and say Hi and be nice then take a few candies/ ask if they can have some, one of my coworkers in contrast tries to find any reason to come over and take some?!?!?I have to say it weirds me out a little bit because he will come over really a bs reason and then say ” Well… I guess since I am here I will take some of this” I guess its a little frusterating becuae more than anything it isn’t causal…it’s a distaction. Most of us candy dishers are 100% about sharing as long as your not a freak abotu it.
Love the site!