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Acts of Kindness Essay
Course: Introduction to Psychology (PSYC103)
21 Documents
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University: Northampton Community College
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Professor Lutsky
PSYC 103-11
15th April 2019
Random Acts of Kindness
Amelia Mary Earhart, an American aviation pioneer and author once wrote, “A single act
of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The
greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves”. One does not
really need a special occasion or reason to say or do something nice. Sometimes something as
simple as randomly telling your friend just how much better your life is with them in it can have
a very drastic positive effect. In essence, when you give kindness you get happiness back.
“Kindness means a behavioral response of compassion and actions that are selfless; or a mindset
that places compassion for others before one’s own interests. In performing the selfless act, a
person may undercut their own selfish interests” (Sreenivasan, Shoba. 2017).
Kindness and love can be merely doing things without being asked to. For example,
making a cup of tea for someone while they are too busy studying, or packing their lunch
because you know they are running late. Love does not have to be expressed through some sort
of grand gesture. The little gestures of compassion matter so much more. Research states that
kindness is teachable and contagious. “It’s kind of like weight training, we found that people can
actually build up their compassion ‘muscle’ and respond to others’ suffering with care and a
desire to help” (Dr. Davidson, 2019) In addition, “the positive effects of kindness are
experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making