Yes, I am blatantly borrowing the title of a very interesting article by Ben Dean, a PhD at the University of Pennsylvania who specialises in “Positive Psychology“. The article explores the reasons why people behave in an altruistic way. In other words, it argues the points for and against regularly performing Random Acts of Kindness.
In a very balanced manner, Dr Dean explores first the cynical view about altruism. Namely, that we carry out Good Deeds because it helps us feel better; because it gains us social and personal rewards; or simply because of social pressure.
He then continues on to present the results of research where doing the right thing and act selflessly was harder than not. The results of the research are not surprising: people still chose to act with kindness, even when there were significant negative impacts on their lives.
What I liked the most about the article is that it closes by presenting the results of research conducted by Sonja Lyubomirsky, a Professor of Psychology at Stanford and one of Positive Psychology’s leading lights. Her research confirmed that completing five RAKs every day has a significant and positive impact in our levels of positive emotion.
If you want to learn a bit more about Dr. Lyubomirsky’s research, I suggest you go to the article Dr Dean wrote, or to her own web page (Links at the bottom of this writing). On the other hand, if you like the idea of committing 5 RAKs per day, why not print some PIF cards and start today? You have my permission to download and print your own cards (go here)
Dr Ben Dean’s article on ‘Kindness and the case for altruism’:
http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletter.aspx?id=70
Dr Soja Lyubomirsky’s web page:
http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~sonja/
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