The surprising effects of generosity
We get a pleasant sensation from being generous; it turns out that it is as remarkable for the receiver as it is for the giver.
In this week’s series of Monday Musings, let’s look at generosity (in 500 words or less).
Generosity can refer to the quality of offering somebody your support. In psychology, generosity is considered a prosocial behaviour that aims to improve another person’s well-being. That said, it can also positively affect the well-being of the giver by activating brain regions associated with pleasure, social connection and trust. Generosity is embodied in activities such as philanthropy, volunteering and altruism.
Multiple studies found that generosity can improve mental health by reducing stress and anxiety or creating a positive feedback loop generated by the acts of giving and receiving. Generosity also has a ripple effect, inspiring others to be generous.
In one such study, the researchers tested to see if it matters who we help: giving money to a person close to us (targeted) and giving to charity (untargeted). The results show that the targeted support was associated with diminished activity in the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for flight or fight. On the flip side, increased activity…
