About this Talk
People want to be kind, and we know it makes people feel good, however people don't always take opportunities to be kind. Data from The Kindness Test shows that people are much less likely to be kind towards strangers, in comparison to close others or acquaintances, but there is limited evidence of why this is. Talking to and being kind to strangers has numerous benefits, so why don’t we engage in this behaviour more often?
My talk will explore some of the things we already know about barriers to being kind to strangers, and potential ways to overcome these barriers.
For example, when people are being kind, they tend to focus on the competency of their actions (i.e., how well they were “doing kindness”), whereas those receiving kindness focus more on the warmth conveyed through the kind act.
Furthermore, people worry about making people uncomfortable and can underestimate the positive impact of their kindness, both on themselves and recipients.
If people knew how good being kind made themselves and recipients feel, they may be more likely to engage in this behaviour.
Research also shows that the thought of talking to strangers can make people feel anxious, but this anxiety can be reduced with practice, so practicing kindness towards strangers more often may reduce the existing barriers.
I am also currently working on a research project that aims to understand the motivations behind being kind to strangers, compared to those we’re close to, and will be able to discuss the findings during this talk.