Many mammals, humans included, experience something called the pilomotor reflex. In dogs this causes the hair on the neck and back to stand up. In humans it causes goosebumps on our skin.
Everybody has experienced this reaction from a cold draft or a sudden case of the chills on a rainy night. There’s nothing unusual about that.
What makes goosebumps a little more interesting in people is the fact they can also be brought on by strong emotions such as awe or admiration or feelings of compassion. All that dimpled flesh represents a physical reaction to emotional experiences.
They may appear suddenly during a romantic moment or when you hear some beautiful music or when you do an act of kindness. They are associated with feelings of compassion, togetherness and reverence. Goosebumps have a good rep.
For psychologist Dacher Keltner, they represent a lot more. He thinks they have evolved in humans to encourage us to be good, kind, caring individuals. Those shivers we experience and that rush of positive energy are trying to tell us something.
Dr. Keltner’s new book about human nature is entitled The Science of Meaningful Life: Born to be Good. Based on his studies and observations of human behaviour he has come to his own conclusion that human beings are genetically hard-wired to do good things.
The pleasant glow and warm fuzzies that accompany our goosebumps are intended to reward and encourage our compassionate behaviour. Good deeds release good endorphins in the brain and we feel happy.
This is a glaring contradiction to the popular misconception that nice guys finish last.
Nice guys very often win the race and rise to the top. Do-gooders, well-wishers and positive thinkers are happier, healthier and they have more friends and acquaintances.
The evidence backs this up. Those species that have kindness and compassion built into their brains, their nervous systems and their genes, tend to do better than those who do not.
In the case of the human species, we should see healthy communities full of well-adjusted children living in happy homes with their happily-married parents. Apparently we are all genetically wired to be a combination of Ozzie Nelson and Mother Theresa.
Dr. Keltner studied the research of Charles Darwin, who is credited with the theory of the survival of the fittest. However, his evidence strongly suggests that “survival of the kindest” was more the winning strategy for Homo sapiens.
It just makes sense. We didn’t become the dominant species on the planet because we were king of the beasts. Compared to many animals, even some fish, we are puny and weak. We are not fast, we don’t see all that well and we don’t have fangs.
However, we are smart and we know how to work together and co-operate to achieve common goals. We help each other out and we know how to share. Our ability and willingness to do good deeds gave us the evolutionary edge. It also made us happy.
It seems that Darwin himself had many insights about human emotions and the nature of human goodness. He believed sympathy is the strongest of all evolved human instincts. He described human beings as “a profoundly social and caring species.”
Scientists are beginning to focus on the so-called “prosocial emotions” such as love, gratitude and compassion. They are asking questions about the origins of the human capacity for kindness. Why are we driven to do good things? What’s in it for us?
If Dacher Keltner is right we choose to be honest, helpful and compassionate because it is good for us as individuals, as communities and ultimately, as a species. He sees a gradual cultural shift in society from the empty promise of materialism to the many joys of social culture and interaction.
It isn’t complicated. All those happiness inducing emotions can be activated and cultivated in familiar, everyday ways.
Giving to others brings a lasting feeling of well-being. Laughing and playing gives us perspective and the ability to adjust to changes.
Doctors trained in the tools of compassion (empathetic listening, warm touch) can expect improved medical outcomes.
Business executives are learning (the hard way for some) about the effect of emotional intelligence on the bottom line.
This is a hopeful insight.
Benevolent emotions such as gratitude, sympathy and compassion have a big payoff. Maybe the glass is half full after all.
It’s enough to give you goosebumps.
Everybody has experienced this reaction from a cold draft or a sudden case of the chills on a rainy night. There’s nothing unusual about that.
What makes goosebumps a little more interesting in people is the fact they can also be brought on by strong emotions such as awe or admiration or feelings of compassion. All that dimpled flesh represents a physical reaction to emotional experiences.
They may appear suddenly during a romantic moment or when you hear some beautiful music or when you do an act of kindness. They are associated with feelings of compassion, togetherness and reverence. Goosebumps have a good rep.
For psychologist Dacher Keltner, they represent a lot more. He thinks they have evolved in humans to encourage us to be good, kind, caring individuals. Those shivers we experience and that rush of positive energy are trying to tell us something.
Dr. Keltner’s new book about human nature is entitled The Science of Meaningful Life: Born to be Good. Based on his studies and observations of human behaviour he has come to his own conclusion that human beings are genetically hard-wired to do good things.
The pleasant glow and warm fuzzies that accompany our goosebumps are intended to reward and encourage our compassionate behaviour. Good deeds release good endorphins in the brain and we feel happy.
This is a glaring contradiction to the popular misconception that nice guys finish last.
Nice guys very often win the race and rise to the top. Do-gooders, well-wishers and positive thinkers are happier, healthier and they have more friends and acquaintances.
The evidence backs this up. Those species that have kindness and compassion built into their brains, their nervous systems and their genes, tend to do better than those who do not.
In the case of the human species, we should see healthy communities full of well-adjusted children living in happy homes with their happily-married parents. Apparently we are all genetically wired to be a combination of Ozzie Nelson and Mother Theresa.
Dr. Keltner studied the research of Charles Darwin, who is credited with the theory of the survival of the fittest. However, his evidence strongly suggests that “survival of the kindest” was more the winning strategy for Homo sapiens.
It just makes sense. We didn’t become the dominant species on the planet because we were king of the beasts. Compared to many animals, even some fish, we are puny and weak. We are not fast, we don’t see all that well and we don’t have fangs.
However, we are smart and we know how to work together and co-operate to achieve common goals. We help each other out and we know how to share. Our ability and willingness to do good deeds gave us the evolutionary edge. It also made us happy.
It seems that Darwin himself had many insights about human emotions and the nature of human goodness. He believed sympathy is the strongest of all evolved human instincts. He described human beings as “a profoundly social and caring species.”
Scientists are beginning to focus on the so-called “prosocial emotions” such as love, gratitude and compassion. They are asking questions about the origins of the human capacity for kindness. Why are we driven to do good things? What’s in it for us?
If Dacher Keltner is right we choose to be honest, helpful and compassionate because it is good for us as individuals, as communities and ultimately, as a species. He sees a gradual cultural shift in society from the empty promise of materialism to the many joys of social culture and interaction.
It isn’t complicated. All those happiness inducing emotions can be activated and cultivated in familiar, everyday ways.
Giving to others brings a lasting feeling of well-being. Laughing and playing gives us perspective and the ability to adjust to changes.
Doctors trained in the tools of compassion (empathetic listening, warm touch) can expect improved medical outcomes.
Business executives are learning (the hard way for some) about the effect of emotional intelligence on the bottom line.
This is a hopeful insight.
Benevolent emotions such as gratitude, sympathy and compassion have a big payoff. Maybe the glass is half full after all.
It’s enough to give you goosebumps.
