How we explain things influences what we think is right

New research focuses on a fundamental human habit: When trying to explain something (why people give roses for Valentine’s Day, for example), we often focus on the traits of the thing itself (roses are pretty) and not its context (advertisers promote roses). In a new study, researchers found that people who tend to focus on ‘inherent traits’ and ignore context also are more likely to assume that the patterns they see around them are good.