Kindness
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Kindness is a type of behavior marked by acts of generosity, consideration, rendering assistance, or concern for others, without expecting praise or reward in return. It is a subject of interest in philosophy, religion, and psychology.
In Book II of
History
In English, the word kindness dates from approximately 1300, though the word's sense evolved to its current meanings in the late 1300s.[5]
In society
Human
In psychology
Studies at Yale University using games with babies concluded that kindness is inherent to human beings.
Barbara Taylor and Adam Phillips stressed the element of necessary realism[jargon] in adult kindness, as well as the way "real kindness changes people in the doing of it, often in unpredictable ways".[10]: 96 & 12
Behaving kindly may improve a person's measurable well-being. Many studies have tried to test the hypothesis that doing something kind makes a person better off. A meta-analysis of 27 such studies found that the interventions studied (usually measuring short-term effects after brief acts of kindness, in WEIRD research subjects) supported the hypothesis that acting more kind improves your well-being.[11]
Weaponized kindness
Some thinkers have suggested that kindness can be weaponized to discourage enemies:
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; for by doing so thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
You should respond with kindness toward evil done to you, and you will destroy in an evil person that pleasure which he derives from evil.
Teaching kindness
Kindness is most often taught from parents to children and is learned through observation and some direct teaching. Studies have shown that through programs and interventions kindness can be taught and encouraged during the first 20 years of life.[13] Further studies show that kindness interventions can help improve wellbeing with comparable results as teaching gratitude.[14] Similar findings have shown that organizational level teaching of kindness can improve wellbeing of adults in college.[15]
See also
- Altruism – Principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others
- Compassion – Moved or motivated to help others
- Empathy – Capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing
- Generosity – Liberal in giving
- Good – Concept in religion, ethics, and philosophy
- Good faith – Intention to be fair, open, and honest
- Kindness Day UK
- Moral character – Steady moral qualities in people
- Moral emotions – Variety of social emotions
- Reciprocity – Repayment in kind
- Pay it forward – Expression for describing the beneficiary of a good deed repaying the kindness to others
- Random act of kindness – Nonpremeditated act to cheer up another
- Random Acts of Kindness Day – A day to celebrate kindlness
- r/K selection theory – Ecological theory concerning the selection of life history traits
- The Kindness Offensive – North London group known for random acts of kindness
- World Kindness Day – International observance on 13 November
References
- ^ Aristotle. Rhetoric. Translated by Roberts, W. Rhys. Book 2, chapter 7. Archived from the original on December 13, 2004. Retrieved 2005-11-22.
- ^ Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm (1996) [1878]. "On the History of Moral Feelings". Menschliches, Allzumenschiles [Human, all too human: a book for free spirits]. Translated by Faber, Marion; Lehman, Stephen. University of Nebraska Press. Aphorism 48.
- ^ Singla, Parvesh. "Character". The Manual of Life: Understanding Karma/Right Action. Parvesh singla – via Google Books.[page needed][self-published source?]
- ^ Kalchuri, Bhau (1986). Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher. Vol. 11. Myrtle Beach: Manifestation, Inc. p. 3918.
- ^ "kindness". Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ISBN 9780393932508.
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Further reading
- Rabbi-Ul-Awwal (July 1998). "What is Kindness to Parents?". Islamic Voice. 12–07 (139). Archived from the original on 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- El-Sayed M. Amin. "Kindness to a Non-Muslim Neighbor: Tips for Interaction". Society. Islam Online. Archived from the original on 2005-08-28. Retrieved 2005-11-22.
- Keltner, Dacher; DiSalvo, David (January 2017). "Forget Survival of the Fittest: It Is Kindness That Counts". Scientific American.
A psychologist probes how altruism, Darwinism, and neurobiology mean that we can succeed by not being cutthroat.
External links
- The dictionary definition of kindness at Wiktionary
- A UK independent, not-for-profit organisation
- Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
- Video with quotes about Kindness, from Wikiquote