Study: Adoption Of Religious Stringency Induces Reflex Of Finding Pretext To Humblebrag About It

Even basic-level Jewish resolutions, such as non-Sabbath-observers who turn off their mobile devices and TVs Friday night and Saturday.

Jerusalem, February 15 – New research has identified a previously-undescribed physiological phenomenon in humans, in which one who takes on a stricter practice than the mainstream of one’s faith community will, within a short period, unavoidably let on verbally to others that he or she has done so.

Scientists at Hadassah Medical Center, the research and training hospital for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, identified the reflex in a series of neurological experiments they discuss in this coming week’s edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. The authors examined an array of stringencies that Jewish subjects adopted, and documented that in each case, the subject found a roundabout, apologetic, or other pretext to mention the adoption of that stringency, often more than once. Following the initial humblebrag period, the article observes, subjects moved from direct mention of the stringency or its side effects to expressing veiled or direct disdain for others who have not chosen to follow the same path.

“The stringencies can involve the smallest things,” explained lead researcher Professor P’siya Gassa. “Let’s say a seminary student decides she’s going to try enhancing her dignity by wearing opaque stockings every day. OK, fine, lots of women do that. But the one for whom the practice represents a new level of care, in 99% of cases she will let slip in conversation with a peer, or better yet, a mentor she wants to impress, that the legwear makes her hot, or itchy – when such discomfort would never prompt a verbalization in the same company under other circumstances.”

“Or, for example,” the professor continued, “a yeshiva student has begun to wear Rabbeinu Tamm t’fillin in addition to the standard Rashi version – within three or four days, max, he’ll make a big show of ‘forgetting’ right before doing so. We also documented numerous cases of irrepressible ‘sharing’ following the adoption of ‘cholov yisroel’; switching from regular Shabbat candles to olive oil and wicks; adopting recitation of ‘korbanot’ before morning and afternoon services; commitment to complete recitation of the book of Psalms over the course of a week or month; a Daf Yomi student who decides to take on Yerushalmi instead of Bavli; and even more basic-level resolutions, such as non-Sabbath-observant Jews who turn off their mobile devices and TVs Friday night and Saturday.”

The researchers plan a meta-analysis of literature that explores analogous behaviors in other realms, with the aim of predicting which disclosures take priority when the adopter of the stringency also practices Crossfit or veganism and has received all COVID vaccines and boosters.

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