All Washed Up?

Remember the "Seinfeld" episode in which Jerry refuses to touch a
pizza made by his girlfriend's father, Poppy, after seeing him leave the
loo without washing his hands? Turns out, Poppy isn't the only male with
poor bathroom hygiene. According to new research, men are less likely to
wash their hands after doing their business, and show no regard for
posted signs reminding them to do so.

Students at Pennsylvania State University conducted the study in
public lavatories on the university's campus, observing patrons'
reactions to signs reminding them to wash up. The signs prompted a 36
percent increase in female hand washing, but had no effect on men's
bathroom behavior.

Women may be more susceptible to the social pressure of having
another person in the restroom with them, says H. Durell Johnson, Ph.D.,
assistant professor of human development and family studies. But he also
noted that women in the study washed up more than men even before the
signs were posted. He chalked that up to women's propensity to stick more
closely to social norms.