The Psychology of Kindness
September 1 was unofficially observed as Random Acts of Kindness day in several countries around the world, including the United States and New Zealand.
There are a number of psychological benefits to engaging in acts of kindness. Kindness is correlated with higher levels of subjective happiness, which in turn is correlated with enhanced social relationships, more positive life experiences, lower levels of psychopathology, and increased satisfaction with life in general (Otake et al., 2006).
In one study conducted by researchers in Japan, it was hypothesized that becoming more conscious of how many kind acts one performed throughout the day would result in individuals experiencing a greater motivation to continue being kind to others, to identify themselves as kind people, to increase the frequency of future kind behaviours... and to feel a greater sense of happiness. Indeed, when the researchers asked a group of students to count their acts of kindness, their hypotheses were tentatively supported after only one week (Otake et al., 2006).
According to the Positive Psychology Centre based out of the University of Pennsylvania (2007):
Incorporating positive psychology elements into our work with clients could have far-reaching implications for their mental health and wellbeing, not the least significant of which could be the enhanced ability to perceive themselves as good, kind, and happy people and to engage in behaviours that accurately reflect those qualities.
Random Acts of Kindness Day may have come and gone... but it's not too late to do something kind for someone else.
It might even wind up being a selfish act!
There are a number of psychological benefits to engaging in acts of kindness. Kindness is correlated with higher levels of subjective happiness, which in turn is correlated with enhanced social relationships, more positive life experiences, lower levels of psychopathology, and increased satisfaction with life in general (Otake et al., 2006).
In one study conducted by researchers in Japan, it was hypothesized that becoming more conscious of how many kind acts one performed throughout the day would result in individuals experiencing a greater motivation to continue being kind to others, to identify themselves as kind people, to increase the frequency of future kind behaviours... and to feel a greater sense of happiness. Indeed, when the researchers asked a group of students to count their acts of kindness, their hypotheses were tentatively supported after only one week (Otake et al., 2006).
According to the Positive Psychology Centre based out of the University of Pennsylvania (2007):
Positive Psychology is the study of strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.... The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead more meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experience of love, work, and play.One of the goals of Positive Psychology is to support therapists who "identify and nurture their patients' strengths."
Incorporating positive psychology elements into our work with clients could have far-reaching implications for their mental health and wellbeing, not the least significant of which could be the enhanced ability to perceive themselves as good, kind, and happy people and to engage in behaviours that accurately reflect those qualities.
Random Acts of Kindness Day may have come and gone... but it's not too late to do something kind for someone else.
It might even wind up being a selfish act!
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