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A headline – drinking coffee makes you more open-minded – is bound to catch your eye especially if you are a regular coffee drinker. After I read the headline, I immediately thought that probably drinking coffee makes you more tolerant (of cultures, opinions, etc.). Possibly the fact that most of the coffee shops specifically corporate coffee outlets were based in the blue states might have led to the headline. See, I already have analyzed the story even before reading it but that can be misplaced as I found out. If you read the article, you come across these facts:
The coffee you drink as a pick-me-up in the morning could also make you more open to persuasion, researchers say…moderate doses of caffeine can also make you more easily convinced by arguments that go against your beliefs.
Volunteers who had consumed the caffeine drink were more likely to change their point of view than those who hadn’t. However, the more distracted subjects were, the less likely they were to have their views altered. This, say the authors of the study, supports the idea that better mental function – rather than better mood – is the reason that coffee could make a person more easily persuaded, because the volunteers were only more open to persuasion when they could concentrate on and assimilate the persuasive argument.
Now, you are confused; the headline suggested that effects of coffee might be positive when it fact, after reading the story, they can be negative especially for people in business. Actually, drinking coffee might put you at a disadvantage at the negotiating table. However, as the article also states that “the compound [in coffee] primes people to agree with statements that go against their typical views because it improves their ability to understand the reasoning behind the statements.” Now, this might in fact be a good thing especially if you are trying to learn something. Your brain doesn’t offer resistance from prejudiced and preconceived notions and you tend to “see the light” more effectively.
Thus, drinking coffee might be detrimental before you go into a meeting but advantageous if you are going into a classroom. Remember that next time you pick up a Grande Coffee of the day from Starbucks. Otherwise forget that you ever read this post.
Update: On a related note, coffee is found to counter the harmful effects of alcohol:
A large study found that one cup of coffee per day cut the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis by 20 percent. Four cups per day reduced the risk by 80 percent.
So, moral of the story: drink alcohol but drink more coffee.
by Patrix | on Friday, June 9th, 2006 at 3:45 am | 
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June 9th, 2006 at 9:37 am
Hey,
Stumbled across your blog from desipundit. Interesting reads.
I always thought drinking coffee makes u less opinionated, as u as still sleepy :-)
June 9th, 2006 at 10:05 am
Ashwin, glad to see you here.
I thought coffee was supposed to wake you up :)
June 9th, 2006 at 10:19 am
something wierd about this…looked for the original article, but couldnt find it…it seems like the ‘brown eyed people are more intelligent’ kind of stuff..
June 9th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Sqrl, I haven’t looked up the original article but had some doubts too especially due to the confusing headline and the subsequent story but I guess, since it was published in New Scientist I thought the story is credible. Let me know if you have a different take on it.
June 9th, 2006 at 2:41 pm
I am trying to get my hand on the original article.. maybe u can dig it up and do some statistical analysis urself..(or get ash to do it):)
June 9th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Sqrl,
Yeah, right! as if my professors aren’t keeping me busy that you are giving me another assignment :)
June 10th, 2006 at 10:16 am
Pat,
Use Sas. Will you? :)
June 12th, 2006 at 10:31 am
“Supposed” to. Never works. I am always sleepy :-)