The Unexpected Power of Random Acts of Kindness
Five takeaways:
- New findings published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology in August 2022 show that random acts of kindness have an underestimated positive effect on both those who commit them and those who receive them.
- Experiments referenced in the study each set out two groups that were to give out goodies (hot chocolate in one, a cupcake in the other) to strangers– both showed that the people giving the goodies out were surprised by both the joyful reactions of the recipients, and the level of positivity the act gave them.
- Unfortunately, “kindness can be a really hard sell,” says a clinical psychologist in the piece. “People desire kindness yet often feel inconvenienced by the thought of being kind.”
- Random Acts of Kindness can be infectious– a random act of kindness challenge on the campus of a small Arizona college in July has led to 200+ acts of kindness in the months since!
- Acts of kindness go well beyond baking cookies for someone. They can become more meaningful when we think about our developed skills and talents, and begin using them to help others. This can lead to more useful, meaningful, and cherished actions– for both the giver and the recipient.
From Catherine Pearson at The New York Times:
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