by Cheryl Moreo
Last Updated on July 1, 2022 by Cheryl Moreo
Kindness is Contagious – Inspire Others To Pay It Forward
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Kindness is contagious”?
Based on truth, most sayings like this come to become widely known. Research has found scientific evidence for the fact that kindness can spread in various ways. You have surely experienced or witnessed instances in which someone has paid it forward, or a movement has spread based on one person’s good deed. In today’s post, I would like to explore this concept further and show you just how far-reaching the idea of helping others can be.
How Both the Giver and Receiver Benefit
Everyone benefits from random acts of kindness. The giver feels good and gets that “helper’s high” from going out of their way to brighten someone’s day. The recipient enjoys the surprise of an unsolicited positive outreach. We all appreciate it when someone is kind to us. These good feelings tend to create a cycle because those involved want to continue feeling good. The giver gets a rush from helping someone and will often be motivated to keep giving in various ways. The recipient wants to share the good feeling they have just gained. They may feel an obligation to “pay it forward,” but they know they will experience a reward, as well.
Observers Experience Benefits, Too
Even if you are not directly part of an act of kindness, you can benefit. A phenomenon known as “moral elevation” exists that ensures good deeds will spread. If you hear about an act of kindness or a feel-good story, it triggers the peripheral and central nervous systems making you feel good with positive feelings. The high or euphoric feeling you then get motivates you to want to do something good, as well, perpetuating the pay-it-forward cycle.
Evidence in Social Learning Theory
Social learning theory is the study of how groups interact. The core principle is the fact that people will behave in similar ways to which they see those in their peer group or how their families behave. It is the “monkey see, monkey does” or “birds of a feather” philosophy. Therefore, when children grow up in a family in which kindness and compassion are the norms, they are more likely to display those traits also. When teachers demonstrate and emphasize to their students a core philosophy of doing good, this standard will be the precedent among the class. Kindness is inherently contagious when groups continually perform such behavior.
In Summary
You can make a difference in your small corner of the world by merely performing random acts of kindness. Science and centuries of anecdotal evidence back this up. Be the change you wish to see and encourage the people around you to do good deeds. You will begin to see an impact.
For even more information, visit the Random Acts of Kindness website.
I hope you have enjoyed this 7-Day Mini Random Acts of Kindness. Don’t forget, “Kindness is Contagious.”