Study Points to Bias Toward a City’s North Side

By Sanette Tanaka

North, south, east or west, researchers find north seems best.

Most people, knowing nothing else about a city, would rather live in the northern half of town than in the southern, says Brian Meier, associate professor of psychology at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pa. People tend to see the north as more desirable and affluent, in turn fueling stereotypes about where the rich and the poor live.

“For some reason, people see the north and south as very different,” Prof. Meier says. “When all else is equal, people have this bias to think that northerly areas are better or more affluent.”

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323419604578573922977663926.html?mod=WSJ_3Up_RealEstate

 

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