Learning Kindness
Kindness is very frequently associated as a behavior marked by a compassionate temperament, moral characteristics and concern for others. It is known as a virtue and recognized as a value in many cultures and faiths and various studies have shown the benefits of performing acts of kindness, not only for the recipient, but for the giver, as well. In recent years, a “random acts of kindness” movement began, encouraging others to spread kindness wherever they go, helping to cultivate a more altruistic society. According to Kelsey Gryniewicz, a director with A Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, "It 's not just about single acts, though. It 's about changing your mentality from day to day." (Judah, 2013)1. While the notion of …show more content…
A common example of prosocial behavior versus selfish behavior is the sharing of toys. When one child shares the toy they currently possess without adult prompting, this is called prosocial behavior. When a child forcefully takes a toy not currently in their possession from another child, this is considered selfish behavior. These types of behaviors have roots in both the child’s genetic components and their upbringing. Nature and nurture for any behavior typically goes hand in hand, with numerous studies supporting this logic. On the nature end of prosocial behavior is a hormone called oxytocin. A hormone responsible for numerous functions throughout the body, oxytocin is also believed to play a key role in regulating social behaviors. In humans, natural oxytocin levels are related to feelings of love and trust in intimate relationships both between parent and child and between romantic partners. Furthermore, oxytocin levels are related to empathy and subsequent generosity toward strangers. And, when oxytocin is administered intra-nasally in human subjects, researchers usually observe an increase in generosity, trust, eye gaze, and the ability to infer the emotions of others (Narvaez,
Kindness is very frequently associated as a behavior marked by a compassionate temperament, moral characteristics and concern for others. It is known as a virtue and recognized as a value in many cultures and faiths and various studies have shown the benefits of performing acts of kindness, not only for the recipient, but for the giver, as well. In recent years, a “random acts of kindness” movement began, encouraging others to spread kindness wherever they go, helping to cultivate a more altruistic society. According to Kelsey Gryniewicz, a director with A Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, "It 's not just about single acts, though. It 's about changing your mentality from day to day." (Judah, 2013)1. While the notion of …show more content…
A common example of prosocial behavior versus selfish behavior is the sharing of toys. When one child shares the toy they currently possess without adult prompting, this is called prosocial behavior. When a child forcefully takes a toy not currently in their possession from another child, this is considered selfish behavior. These types of behaviors have roots in both the child’s genetic components and their upbringing. Nature and nurture for any behavior typically goes hand in hand, with numerous studies supporting this logic. On the nature end of prosocial behavior is a hormone called oxytocin. A hormone responsible for numerous functions throughout the body, oxytocin is also believed to play a key role in regulating social behaviors. In humans, natural oxytocin levels are related to feelings of love and trust in intimate relationships both between parent and child and between romantic partners. Furthermore, oxytocin levels are related to empathy and subsequent generosity toward strangers. And, when oxytocin is administered intra-nasally in human subjects, researchers usually observe an increase in generosity, trust, eye gaze, and the ability to infer the emotions of others (Narvaez,