How Good News Can Inspire Good Deeds A recent study suggests how acts of kindness can have a far-reaching ripple effect

A recent study suggests how acts of kindness can have a far-reaching ripple effect.

By Carmen Sobczak | July 11, 2011

In a world where โ€œno news is good newsโ€ and good news is not news, the media often skim over stories of altruistic behavior, sensationalizing conflict instead. However, a new study suggests that good news can actually inspire good deeds.

The study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, examines the warm, uplifting feeling we get from watching someone act with courage or compassionโ€”a feeling psychologists refer to as โ€œmoral elevation.โ€ Researchers have found that elevation induces positive emotions, makes people believe in the goodness of humanity, and inspires them to act more altruistically.

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