Psychological Benefits of Giving

The holiday season was a perfect time to focus on giving. Why stop? The benefits of
giving can continue throughout the year. Engaging in acts of generosity activates
regions of the brain associated with pleasure, trust, and social connection. The “helper’s
high” creates a warm, rewarding feeling.

Scott Rick, PhD, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Michigan’s
Ross School of Business, is known for developing the tightwad/spendthrift scale, which
found that there are real brain and behavioral differences between tightwads and
spendthrifts. He determined that they are related to an emotional experience called the
pain of paying. “A good gift involves some sacrifice—money, time, or both.” (Novotney,
A. (2022).

What are some of the psychological benefits of giving?

Giving evolved from an evolutionary perspective.
Have you ever wondered why so many people live in communities? Our survival is
based on cooperative efforts and socialization. There is an intrinsic reward system for
acts of generosity.

Giving enhances happiness and well-being.
There are selfish reasons to prosper from giving—a good kind of selfishness. Studies
show that giving leads to longer-lasting happiness compared to self-indulgent acts.

Giving strengthens social connections.
Acts of generosity build relationships and a sense of community. Giving creates
reciprocal cycles, where kindness encourages others to give back, fostering stronger
social networks.

Giving enhances self-esteem and purpose.
Sometimes we go through life on automatic pilot. Giving can refresh our sense of
purpose and contribute to our self-worth. A very important aspect of giving is the feeling
of being needed and valuable. This in turn can counteract feelings of loneliness and
depression.

Giving reduces stress and promotes health.
The feeling of being generous actually decreases stress and lowers blood pressure.
Did you know that regular acts of giving lead to improved mental and physical health
and reduces symptoms of chronic illness? As a psychologist, I often remind people that
they are more than just their illness, anxiety and depression. Giving is a good way to
feel that.

Giving cultivates gratitude and empathy.
Giving engenders empathy and compassion for others. It helps us understand and
connect with others’ needs and experiences. In doing so, we can develop a deeper
appreciation for what we have and the ability to feel grateful.

Giving has a positive impact on mental health.
Volunteering combats negative emotions such as guilt, sadness and isolation.
Witnessing the positive impact of your actions has a benefit of diverting attention from
your own challenges and helps you cope.

Giving not only benefits recipients but also profoundly enriches the lives of
givers!

Reference: Novotney, A. (2022). What happens in your brain when you give a gift?
American Psychological Association.