Why Do Good Deeds Feel Good?
Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash
During this season of giving, we looked into why volunteering, donating, and supporting causes isn’t just good for others – it also makes you feel good. A team of Canadian and American psychology and business experts investigated whether spending money on others can reliably increase happiness. After reviewing 15 experiments on the topic, they reached a conclusion: it does.
They found that not all giving is created equally. People feel the best about giving when there are three critical conditions: active engagement in the giving process, decision-making power over what to support, and visibility into the outcome of support. When givers are involved in the support process, are able to choose what to give to, and see how their support is making a difference, that warm fuzzy feeling is likely to be stronger.
Of course, the giving season is about much more than feeling good—it’s about supporting causes that matter, giving back to communities, and creating a better world together. Feeling good after the fact is just a bonus!
About the Rialto Center for Creativity
The Rialto Center for Creativity is transforming Westfield’s historic Rialto Theater into a vibrant hub for cultural conversation, live performances, and hands-on learning.
The Rialto Center for Creativity is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c )(3).
