Generous people are often described as the great disadvantaged in modern societies in the West, where individualism and the search for pleasure for oneself prevail.

This, which is based on a part of truth, is a distortion of reality, since being generous is also rewarded by a series of both physical and psychological benefits.

The advantages of being generous

Contrary to what we might think, pure selfishness also leaves certain blind spots where problems and adversities can strike: unstable relationships, relative lack of support systems and a strong community to protect, etc.

Below we will look at some benefits that generous people are the first to enjoy .

1. have better mental health

When the demands of having to take care of others are not very demanding in terms of time and effort, altruism is correlated with a greater propensity to enjoy good mental health . The psychological repercussions of knowing you are useful to others who need you could be behind this.

2. May feel better with less

Unlike selfish people, who need to obtain material rewards in exchange for their efforts to feel good, generous people are able to feel good simply by performing altruistic tasks , which they can do whenever they want because they are only dependent on them. After being involved in these tasks, many of them feel physically more energetic, with less pain and stress, and with a better self-image, which has repercussions in all areas of their lives.

3. Affection helps young people grow up better

It has long been known that those caregivers who, in addition to providing children and adolescents with the “obligatory” formal care such as food, water and a place to sleep, are much more likely to surround themselves with offspring that can care for them in their old age. This is because, with the creation of attachments, the capacity of young people to feel affection for other people also appears.

4. Create networks of trust easily

The hormone oxytocin, which is related to generous and altruistic behaviors, is also associated with the creation of bridges of mutual trust, which can be very useful to develop ambitious and expensive projects that can only be carried out if several people agree and collaborate over a long period of time. This means that generous people will be somewhat more likely to devote their efforts to making projects whose objectives are long term reach their goal.

5. They can become the most visible part of the community

Generous people are able to give selflessly for long periods whether or not there are prizes or rewards related to extrinsic motivation. This means that they are able to make others perceive them as generous at the same time, rather than sequentially: there are times when many people have benefited from the help of this type of profile without giving anything concrete in return.

In this way, it often happens that the members of a community, seeing that everyone considers that there is someone especially generous, the public image of this person reaches a new level, which is often related to a protective role and, therefore, of authority.

6. Are farther removed from depression in old age

People over 65 who volunteer to help others are less likely to develop depression, thanks to the social integration these tasks produce. This is very useful, taking into account that self-concept and self-image may diminish in old age if retirement is interpreted as a sign that one is no longer useful to anyone.

7. Can concentrate more on positive thoughts

Generous people are more likely to help others selflessly, which creates a climate of positivity and a certain optimism . This makes them more exposed to situations in which attention is shifted towards optimistic and happy ideas, which is useful to maintain good levels of well-being.

8. Propensity for greater longevity?

Although studies on the longevity of kind people are still needed, it has been seen that a tendency to focus on positive ideas and affectionate behaviors increases longevity and is associated with a strengthening of the immune system.

Bibliographic references:

  • Musick, M. A. and Wilson, J. (2003). volunteering and depression: the role of psychological and social resources in different age groups. Social Science & Medicine, 56(2), pp. 259-269.
  • Post, S. G. (2005). Altruism, Happiness, and Health: It’s Good to Be Good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12(2), pp. 66 – 77.
  • Schwartz, C., Meisenhelder, J. B., Ma, Y., & Reed, G. (2003). Altruistic social interest behaviors are associated with better mental health. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, pp. 778-785.
  • Zack, P. J., Kurzban, R. and Matzner, W. T. Oxytocin is associated with human trustworthiness. Hormones and Behaviour, 48(5), pp. 522 – 527.