Darwin would have us all believe that we live by “survival of the fittest,” and put our resources into looking out for #1. But new research shows that humans receive pleasure from being generous, which then incentives us to continue giving. As this article in the Wall Street Journal explains, scientists used fMRI to measure which parts of the brain “lit up” when people gave to others. Turns out when test subjects donated money to a “worthy” cause, the midbrain lit up, which is the same part of the brain that controls our pleasure responses to food and sex. Even when forced to give, test subjects felt good about it. Turns out it feels good to do good.
This may be bad news for Deontologists, who want us to give because of a moral duty, not because it makes us feel good. Good thing there was no fMRI machine in Kant’s day.
This may be old news for many of you who are active in philanthropy or community service. It also reminds us to be kind, as I imagine doing so creates the same pleasure sensation in our brain. I want to share this article recounting George Saunders’ commencement speech about kindness. It is a beautiful message about how to live, and that the only thing you will really regret is the failure to be kind. My children go to an elementary school that has a school motto of “Kindness Matters.” Except that it is more than a motto, it is really a mission statement. The kids are reminded all the time of why kindness matters, and the faculty and administration try to live it. When I compare my kids’ experiences in school with those in other towns and schools, I can anecdotally say that kindness matters has made a difference. Not everyone is nice all the time, but there is a general sense that you will be rewarded if you are kind. Now we know that there is science to back that up.
So, do good, and feel good about it.
One Comment
Stephanie Moyal posted on September 30, 2013 at 12:41 am
Generosity is one of the best qualities you can find in a person. I have luckily been surrounded with it my entire life, and I like to think that it has rubbed off on me. I truly love doing things for other people, especially those that I think deserve it. There’s no better feeling than doing something nice for someone and having it be appreciated. While Kant and his fellow followers of Deontology would argue with me and say that an act is about the motive, not about the ultimate ending feeling, I would disagree with them and say that it is all about how you feel at the end. Being generous pleases someone else and makes you happy at the same time… it’s a win win.