‘It’s up to you’: Experimentally manipulated autonomy support for prosocial behavior improves well-being in two cultures over six weeks

Nelson, S. Katherine; Porta, Matthew D. Della; Bao, Katherine Jacobs; Lee, Hyunjung Crystal; Choi, Incheol; Lyubomirsky, Sonja

doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.983959

Cited by 106 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The present findings are also consistent with literature that links prosocial behavior to favorable social outcomes such as peer acceptance (Layous et al, 2012), feelings of connectedness (Nelson et al, 2015), social adjustment (Crick, 1996), and eudaimonic well-being (Nelson et al, 2016), as well as to favorable health correlates including cardiovascular function and decreased mortality (Brown et al, 2003(Brown et al, , 2009. Our findings extend that literature by providing the first experimental evidence that prosocial behavior can causally impact CTRA gene expression.…”

Section: Genomic Benefits Of Prosocial Behaviorsupporting

confidence: 81%

Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior

Nelson‐Coffey

Fritz

Lyubomirsky

et al. 2017

Psychoneuroendocrinology

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110

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A B S T R A C TContext: Prosocial behavior is linked to longevity, but few studies have experimentally manipulated prosocial behavior to identify the causal mechanisms underlying this association. One possible mediating pathway involves changes in gene expression that may subsequently influence disease development or resistance. Design, setting, participants: In the current study, we examined changes in a leukocyte gene expression profile known as the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity (CTRA) in 159 adults who were randomly assigned for 4 weeks to engage in prosocial behavior directed towards specific others, prosocial behavior directed towards the world in general, self-focused kindness, or a neutral control task. Results: Those randomized to prosocial behavior towards specific others demonstrated improvements (i.e., reductions) in leukocyte expression of CTRA indicator genes. No significant changes in CTRA gene expression were observed in the other 3 conditions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that prosocial behavior can causally impact leukocyte gene expression profiles in ways that might potentially help explain the previously observed health advantages associated with social ties.

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Section: Genomic Benefits Of Prosocial Behaviorsupporting

confidence: 81%

Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior

Nelson‐Coffey

Fritz

Lyubomirsky

et al. 2017

Psychoneuroendocrinology

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110

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“…Accordingly, assigning participants to practice self-kindness may represent an appropriate alternative comparison activity for future researchers wishing to study the effect of prosocial behavior on a variety of psychological outcomes. Third, although theoretical accounts postulate the mechanisms by which positive activities improve well-being , few studies have actually tested these predictions (for an exception, see Nelson et al, 2015). The current study advances this literature by testing one mechanism by which prosocial behavior promotes well-being-namely, by increasing positive emotions.…”

Section: Methodological Contributionsmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Substantial evidence suggests that helping others leads to boosts in happiness (Chancellor et al, 2015;Lyubomirsky, Sheldon, et al, 2005;Nelson et al, 2015;Otake et al, 2006;Sheldon et al, 2012;Weinstein & Ryan, 2010). For example, when Japanese participants were assigned to take note of the kind things they did for others, they demonstrated increases in happiness over the course of 1 week, relative to a control condition (Otake et al, 2006).…”

Section: Prosocial Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Do unto others or treat yourself? The effects of prosocial and self-focused behavior on psychological flourishing.

Nelson¹,

Layous

Cole

et al. 2016

Emotion

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255

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When it comes to the pursuit of happiness, popular culture encourages a focus on oneself. By contrast, substantial evidence suggests that what consistently makes people happy is focusing prosocially on others. In the current study, we contrasted the mood-and well-being-boosting effects of prosocial behavior (i.e., doing acts of kindness for others or for the world) and self-oriented behavior (i.e., doing acts of kindness for oneself) in a 6-week longitudinal experiment. Across a diverse sample of participants (N ϭ 473), we found that the 2 types of prosocial behavior led to greater increases in psychological flourishing than did self-focused and neutral behavior. In addition, we provide evidence for mechanisms explaining the relative improvements in flourishing among those prompted to do acts of kindnessnamely, increases in positive emotions and decreases in negative emotions. Those assigned to engage in self-focused behavior did not report improved psychological flourishing, positive emotions, or negative emotions relative to controls. The results of this study contribute to a growing literature supporting the benefits of prosocial behavior and challenge the popular perception that focusing on oneself is an optimal strategy to boost one's mood. People striving for happiness may be tempted to treat themselves. Our results, however, suggest that they may be more successful if they opt to treat someone else instead.

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“…Experimental studies in which participants are prompted to practice prosociality in their daily life over a period of time combine the advantages of longitudinal studies and laboratory experiments. In fact, in controlled experiments, the practice of kindness indeed boosts happiness and produces social benefits, sometimes even weeks later (Dunn, Aknin, & Norton, 2008;Layous, Nelson, Oberle, SchonertReichl, & Lyubomirsky, 2012;Lyubomirsky, Sheldon, & Schkade, 2005;Nelson et al 2014;Sheldon, Boehm, & Lyubomirsky, 2012; Study 2).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We hypothesize, however, that carefully nudging individuals to practice their own prosocial acts can actually cultivate feelings of autonomy as individuals implement their own unique brand of kindness and are poised to take ownership of the fruit of their overtures (see also Nelson et al, 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Everyday prosociality in the workplace: The reinforcing benefits of giving, getting, and glimpsing.

Chancellor

Margolis

Bao

et al. 2018

Emotion

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A functional analysis of prosociality considers how predispositions for prosocial behavior prompt, reinforce, and propagate kind behaviors in the real world. To examine the effects of practicing, receiving, and observing everyday prosociality-as well as the mechanisms underlying these effects-we randomly assigned employees in a Spanish corporate workplace (N ϭ 111) to be Givers, Receivers, and Controls. Givers practiced 5 acts of kindness for a personalized list of Receivers over 4 weeks. We found that Givers and Receivers mutually benefited in well-being in both the short-term (e.g., on weekly measures of competence and autonomy) and the long-term (e.g., Receivers became happier after 2 months, and Givers became less depressed and more satisfied with their lives and jobs). In addition, Givers' prosocial acts inspired others to act: Receivers paid their acts of kindness forward with 278% more prosocial behaviors than Controls. Our results reveal that practicing everyday prosociality is both emotionally reinforcing and contagious (inspiring kindness and generating hedonic rewards in others) and that receiving everyday prosociality is an unequivocally positive experience (which may further reinforce Givers' actions). Prosociality's benefits shed light on its surprising ubiquity in humanity compared with our closest evolutionary cousins.

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‘It’s up to you’: Experimentally manipulated autonomy support for prosocial behavior improves well-being in two cultures over six weeks

Cited by 106 publications

References 38 publications

Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior

Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior

Do unto others or treat yourself? The effects of prosocial and self-focused behavior on psychological flourishing.

Everyday prosociality in the workplace: The reinforcing benefits of giving, getting, and glimpsing.

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