© highwaystarz / FotoliaAn act of kindness.
Researchers conclude that being kind to others causes a small but significant improvement in subjective well-being. The review found that the effect is lower than some pop-psychology articles have claimed, but also concluded that future research might help identify which kind acts are most effective at boosting happiness.
The claim that 'helping makes you happy' has become a staple of pop psychology and self-help manuals. Performing 'random acts of kindness' has been touted as a sure-fire way of boosting your mood -- doing good makes you feel good, as well as benefiting others. But do these claims stack up, or are they 'too good to be true'?
In order to find out, a team from the universities of Oxford and Bournemouth carried out a systematic review of the scientific literature. They analysed over 400 published papers that had investigated the relationship between kindness and happiness, and identified 21 studies that had explicitly put the claim to the test -- that being kind to others makes us happier. They then conducted a meta-analysis, which statistically combines the results of these previous studies. On this basis, they calculate that there is indeed an overall effect of kindness on happiness, but that the size of the effect is relatively modest -- equivalent to less than one point on a 0-10 happiness scale.
They also find that lower quality studies tended to claim larger effects than the high quality research, which suggests that the true effect may be even smaller.
In addition, they note that existing research does not distinguish between kindness to family and friends versus strangers and, taking this into account, targeted kindness rather than indiscriminate kindness may have a greater effect on happiness.
Study lead author Dr Oliver Scott Curry, from the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Oxford, concludes: 'Humans are social animals. We are happy to help family, friends, colleagues, community members and even strangers under some conditions. This research suggests that people do indeed derive satisfaction from helping others. This is probably because we genuinely care about others' welfare, and because random acts of kindness are a good way of making new friends, and kick-starting supportive social relationships.'
He adds: 'Many groups in the last decade have been keen to establish a link between kindness and happiness, including the UK government. Offering kindness to others has been explored as a possible panacea for many of our social ills, ranging from social isolation to more serious mental and physical health conditions. Our review suggests that performing acts of kindness will not change your life, but might help nudge it in the right direction. We recommend further research is done to compare the effects of being kind to family and friends as opposed to strangers. This is an area about which we know surprisingly little at the moment.'
The study was commissioned by kindness.org, a new US-based, non-profit organisation which launched today, along with its digital platform.
Dr Curry is a Senior Researcher in the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, based in the School of Anthropology at the University of Oxford. He is also director of The Oxford Morals Projects, looking at the psychology of moral values, and how morality varies around the world.
We have today (more than ever) a world where people lie and cheat others to gain excessive advantage, fame, wealth and power. Specifically these 'people' cheat those (including non-human life forms) who are seen to be 'weaker', ie., less clever and less in other ways, too. More primitive, less organized, interested in things other than power and constant material corruption (so-called 'change') and acquisition.
This is the MOST abundant fact of our world, at present and is the basis of our technology and the rest of our clutter--our mindset and our 'reality', so to speak. Everything is devoted to lying and cheating and various forms of manipulating and directing and brain-washing, deceiving, robbing from and yes, destroying those who are 'weaker' and not on a par with our wonderful world.
When confronted with this actual truth, the manipulative liar and compulsive cheater, the typical modern mad man (or woman and this likely includes YOU) points to the fact that this world is all an illusion anyway.
And that may be.
But bear in mind (if you can, you stupid chronic and despicable charlatan idiot who thinks yourself, 'smart' and 'elusive' and oh, so clever and technologically proficient and adapted) that though this world is an illusion and anything can happen, any amount of crime and 'getting away with it' is possible, and this is being proven again and again; God is NOT an illusion.
I repeat: GOD IS NOT AN ILLUSION.
Huh?
Whaaa?
Who???
God???
So, go ahead, do everything you can to stay alive, and beating the competition, and to keep cheating and lying and swindling and KILLING forever those who are 'weaker' than you.
And have a great time doing it.
You disgust me and I hate you, but more importantly your time will end and a different world will take the place of this one.
DUH.
ned......
.....OUT