What if you learned that simply wishing strangers well could boost your well-being, increase your level of empathy and reduce your anxiety? Would you do it more often?
Testing a theory on well-being
A team of researchers decided to test their theory that merely wishing someone well would increase our own well-being.
They divided college students into four groups:
• Group No. 1 used the loving-kindness strategy.
This group of college students was told to look at people and think, “I wish for this person to be happy.” The volunteers were encouraged to really mean what they were thinking when looking at someone.
• Group No. 2 used the interconnectedness strategy.
This group of college students was told to look at people and wonder about the hopes, feeling and aspirations they might have in common with them.
• Group No. 3 used the downward social comparison strategy.
This group of college students was told to look at people and think about how their own life is better than the people they were looking at.
• Group No. 4 was a control group.
This group of college students was told to focus on people’s appearance, clothing, etc.
Each group was told to walk around campus using their strategy for 12 minutes.
The effects on well-being
Before and after the experiment, all the college students were required to fill out surveys that measured things like well-being, stress, empathy, anxiety and happiness.
Group No. 1, which used the loving-kindness strategy, was found to have higher levels of happiness, well-being and empathy, and lower levels of anxiety than the other groups. Their sense of care and connectedness also increased.
Group No. 3, which used the social comparison strategy, had the opposite effect. Participants reported feeling less caring and empathetic and their well-being did not increase.
“Walking around and offering kindness to others in the world reduces anxiety and increases happiness and feelings of social connection,” explains lead author Douglas Gentile, a professor of psychology at Iowa State University.
