Read the passage and decide whether the statements are True (T) or False (F). While it has long been assumed that giving also leads to greater happiness this has only recently started to be scientifically proven. For example, when participants in a study did five new acts of kindness on one day per week over a six-week period (even if each act was small) they experienced an increase in well-being, compared to control groups. In another study, participants who were given $5 or $20 to spend on others or donate to charity experienced greater happiness than people given the same amount to spend on themselves. Interestingly the amount of money did not affect the level of happiness generated. And there is now evidence that this leads to a virtuous circle - happiness makes US give more, and giving makes US happier, which leads to a greater tendency to give and so on. This effect is consistent across different cultures. It makes sense that helping others contributes to our own happiness. Scientists are reconsidering the idea of the ‘selfish gene’ and are exploring the evolution of altruism, cooperation, compassion and kindness. Human beings are highly social creatures and have evolved as a species living with others. If people are altruistic, they are more likely to be liked and so build social connections and stronger and more supportive social networks, which leads to increased feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Indeed participating in shared tasks like community service, and other social activities, predicts how satisfied people are even after other factors are taken into account.
1. Giving has been scientifically proven to lead to greater happiness.
