Praise as good as cash to brain (reuters.com)

People have a need to belong - well yes, but why is that news let alone research worthy?

Are they also able to measure the degree of happiness people experience? That could be interesting, like economists could finally get a measurement of the utility curves of their subjects.

I always told my old boss, its great to know Im doing a good job, but I can't pay rent with "Good jobs" ...

What's so good about cash? It is just a tool to accomplish your own goals. It is pretty sad if cash alone gives people, even temporary, hapiness. Actually, a lot of stuff would be more sexier if not paid. I feel that reward turns off my creativeness.

To say nothing about that personally I hate praising. I perceive it to be empty.

Well, you can pay people to praise you but the reverse doesnt hold.