For all those dismayed by scenes of looting in Chile or elsewhere, take heart: Good acts — acts of kindness, generosity and cooperation — spread just as easily as bad. And it takes only a handful of individuals to really make a difference.
In a study published by the National Academy of Sciences last week, researchers provided the first laboratory evidence that cooperative behavior is contagious and that it spreads from person to person to person. When people benefit from kindness they “pay it forward” by helping others who were not originally involved, and this creates a cascade of cooperation that influences dozens more in a social network.
(READ More in Science Daily) – Thanks to Nancy P. for submitting the link!
I think this is true- someone in the car in front of my mom and me at the drive-thru paid for our meal, and my mom and I contributed to the meal for someone behind us, and then my mom did it again a few months later:-) Kindness is definitely contagious:-) Please pray for my grandpa that he is happy and healthy for many years to come and for all my family- thanks so much- I will pray for you guys- drive extra safe!:-)
I thoroughly agree with this concept. I heard of this about a year ago after listening to an interview on April 5, 2009, by Mary Hines on CBC Tapestry with Dacher Keltner who is also involved in the same type of research. The interview is called Survival of the Kindest. Dacher has a book called, “Born to be Good, The Science of a meaningful Life”. I highly recommend this and other Tapestry interviews for Good News Network subscribers.
Actually, now that I think of it, I think it would be great if Mary could interview Geri.