The annual World Happiness Report highlights a sustained rise in kindness during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, with pro-social behaviors like volunteering up over 10% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Notably, helping strangers increased by an average of 18%. Prof. Lara Aknin noted that the pandemic has heightened awareness of others' needs, fostering a sense of obligation and reducing hesitance in extending help. This trend suggests a possible long-lasting change in societal attitudes towards kindness, with implications for personal well-being.
I think many people have an interest in helping others, but sometimes shy away; they don't want to overstep their welcome.
The Covid-19 pandemic made it abundantly clear that many of us need help from our neighbours and friends.
One perhaps really optimistic possibility is that we've now opened our eyes to the needs of other people and the emotional rewards we get from helping.
The size and persistence of the post-Covid increases in benevolent acts meant that even in 2024, four years after the onset of Covid, they were still 10% higher.
Collection
[
|
...
]