5.2 Benefits of kindness

Practising kindness has been shown through studies to have some benefits that are universally positive, but particularly interesting to consider in the family context.

When practising acts of kindness, it is often done without the expectation of personal gain.

However, there can be benefits for both parties. The people carrying out the acts of kindness can also experience positive feelings of joy, connection and can redirect attention away from themselves. Our brains’ reward systems experience a burst of happy hormones, such as oxytocin, when carrying out kind acts.

Studies have also shown that when people carry out five acts of kindness a day, they report feeling happier for many days afterwards (Lyubomirsky, 2007, pp.127–9). This research shows that the more acts of kindness carried out within a short period, the higher the positive effect.