It turns out that if certain objects are made visible and salient, people’s behavior can be affected. Objects characteristic of business environments, such as briefcases and boardroom tables, make people more competitive, less cooperative, and less generous.25 Smells matter too: mere exposure to the scent of an all-purpose cleaner makes people keep their environment cleaner while they eat.26 In both cases, people were not consciously aware of the effect of the cue on their behavior.
