Good morning and welcome to this week’s TCC Weekly – your guide to what we’re reading.

This week we stare down humanity’s dark atavistic impulses, we learn what Noel Edmonds can teach us about behavioural economics, and we ask whether shy Tories are finally going to stop hiding their light under a bushel. Mostly important of all, however, we bring you exclusive coverage from the year’s most eagerly awaited event in the behavioural economist’s calendar, Nudgestock.

And if all that psycho-social analysis is getting you down, then head on up the wooden hill to Charlie’s Attic for a taste of the truly puerile.

David Evans
Director

• Behaviour Change ~ Do humans really have an innate propensity to act violently?
• Polls, Policies and Politics ~ Are shy Tories coming out of their shell?
• Health Hub ~ Find out about Sweden’s new scheme to encourage people to give blood
• Values Lab ~ How important is morality in Britain today?
• Charlie’s Attic ~ The best advert of the ‘90s plus the racoon meme going viral

• Researchers at Queensland University of Technology have produced a study which shows the ways in which polling before an election can influence voters on the day. So, asks Science 2.0, do we want accurate polling or fair elections? If it helps you make up your mind then here’s a piece explaining why biases might actually just be good for you…
• The Stanford Prison Experiment – proof, as every social science graduate will vaguely remember, of humanity’s underlying atavistic propensity for violence. Or is it, Maria Konnikova asks in the New Yorker?
• Meanwhile, just how important are first impressions? At a glance, they seem like everything – but could Cornell University researchers say they might be less important than we’ve been led to believe.
• Also this week, what does Noel Edmonds have to teach us about behavioural economics? Quite a lot, it turns out. Research by the FT shows that people in the limelight act more cautiously.
• And finally, to Nudgestock: the most eagerly anticipated day in the calendar of every behavioural economics enthusiast. (Where were you?) This year’s event saw more than 400 people “swarm” to Folkestone, Kent. While Joni Mitchell was nowhere to be seen, TCC has it on good authority that she followed the proceedings on Twitter. 

• It's day 43 of the Labour Party's crowd-sourced autopsy, but Jeremy Cliffe shows his scalpel is still sharp with this excellent analysis for the Standard. That’s our only Labour post-mortem this week, but we do have some examination of what went right for the Tories. According to some, meanwhile, Conservatives are no longer shy. Harry Cole asks what’s changed.
• The British public are always quick to rally behind calls for greater transparency. But what happens when local authorities publish their spending? Well, not much it seems, says one.
• With the EU referendum now firmly on the political agenda, nearly 70 Labour MPs have launched a pro-Europe campaign, Labour Yes. Meanwhile, socialist daily the Morning Star reports that a rival, anti-EU campaign is being planned, with Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins as likely leader.
  o   However, both factions will have plenty of time to battle it out, now that the government has confirmed that the referendum will definitely not take place on 5 May 2016.
  o   And on the topic of the referendum, David Cameron faces defeat in the House of Lords, with Peers set to vote in favour of extending the referendum vote to 16 and 17 year-olds.
• Who are you and what have you done with Andy Burnham? That’s what Stuart Bruce, who ran Burnham’s campaign in 2010, has taken to Facebook to ask.
  o   And with nominations for Labour leader now closed, here are the 12 things that we learned during the nomination process, according to Labour List.
  o   However, after the performance of Wednesday night’s host at the first televised hustings, some are asking whether this might be a five-way contest…
  o   But with glitz and glamour of the Labour leadership race stealing headlines, let us not forget the also important Labour deputy leadership race – the political equivalent of the 200 metres.
• Meanwhile John Rentoul claims – contrary to our earlier article – that first impressions do count. And, he says, that spells bad news for Labour.
• If polls are to be believe – and why would we ever doubt them? – then it’s a difficult road ahead Zac Goldsmith, the likely Tory candidate in the London mayoral elections.
• Elsewhere in local politics, the government’s “English votes for English laws” proposal take place sooner than expected. And with the government set to press ahead with its plan for a Northern Powerhouse, take a look at this briefing on the current economic profile of key cities in the North, produced by the Centre for Cities. Speaking of cities, one article asks how we can make sure our cities don’t remain stuck in the past?
• And finally, take a look at this report from Eric Kaufmann, who argues that living in diverse areas makes whites more, not less, tolerant.

• A new initiative in Sweden this week means that blood donors will receive a “thank you” text each time their blood saves someone’s life. It is hoped this will boost donation rates, which have long been in decline.
• Physiotherapists have recommended taking the stairs as the first step towards a healthier lifestyle.
• Also this week, here are Nesta, talking about their People Powered Health project, which aims to help those living with long term health conditions (more than 15 million in England alone) by redressing the bias towards hospital-based cures. And when coming to terms with a diagnosis, the support of those who have been through similar experiences is invaluable – but could peer support help future-proof the NHS?
• And, finally, it turns out that while Brits love to moan about the NHS, only one in three of those who do complain formally.

• Got a great idea for a community project? Have a look at this tool, which enables you to see whether your idea could be turned into a reality.
• With the next Nudgestock almost a year away, there’s still plenty of good reason to go to Kent, which has just been named Europe’s best family holiday destination.
•  “Twitter? I’ve never sent an email to anybody,” says left-wing firebrand Dennis Skinner, aka the Beast of Bolsover. Which is a shame, because a tribute account has attracted of 37,000 followers.
• Orange you sad you didn’t think of it first? Here Trevor Robinson OBE reflects on how he created the most memorable advert of the 90s (can you guess what it is?).
• Here at TCC we’re firmly against clickbait and the “dumbing down” of the news. Really, we are. However, we’re firmly for racoons riding alligators (w/ pics!). And what’s more you simply won’t believe the cute and unlikely thing this baby koala is doing!
• This week saw the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. Across the Atlantic, the Washing Post asks whether it’s about time Britain got a written, codified constitution, and meets the man who wrote one.
• And finally, What rights would you add to the Magna Carta if you had the chance? Have a look and find out what happened when the British Library put that question to the public.