Helping others makes us happier -- but it matters how we do it | Elizabeth Dunn

Summary

In this insightful talk, the speaker explores the science of happiness and the profound impact of generosity. Despite initial research suggesting that spending money on others promotes happiness, the speaker's personal experience of donating to charity did not evoke the expected joy. This led to a deeper investigation into the nature of giving, culminating in the discovery that the act of giving is most rewarding when there's a tangible connection to the recipients and a clear vision of the difference made. The speaker shares a personal journey of sponsoring a refugee family, illustrating the joy found in meaningful giving and the power of community in supporting those in need. The talk concludes with a call to reframe charitable giving as a source of pleasure and a celebration of our shared humanity.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The speaker's job is to study happiness and its impact on solving societal issues.
• 💡 A decade of research led to the discovery that spending money on others promotes happiness, a finding that was personally puzzling to the speaker.
• 👶 Even toddlers show joy when giving to others, suggesting an innate human tendency towards generosity.
• 🌍 Global surveys indicate that charitable givers are generally happier than non-givers, regardless of their financial status.
• 💰 The emotional benefits of giving are substantial, comparable to the happiness gained from doubling one's income.
• 🤔 The speaker questioned the effectiveness of their own charitable giving, leading to increased personal involvement.
• 🇨🇦 The 'Group of Five' program in Canada allows citizens to sponsor refugee families, fostering a deep sense of connection and purpose.
• 🏡 The process of sponsoring a refugee family involved community efforts, from raising funds to preparing homes, highlighting collective impact.
• 🤝 Feeling connected and envisioning the impact of giving are crucial for experiencing the joy of helping others.
• 🌟 Charitable giving should be reimagined to emphasize the pleasure and human connection it can provide, rather than just a moral duty.
• 💡 Charities should focus on allowing donors to see the direct impact of their contributions to enhance the joy of giving.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the speaker's job?

The speaker's job focuses on studying happiness and understanding what makes people happy.

What was the title of the paper published by the speaker and her collaborators in 'Science'?

The title of the paper was 'Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness.'

Why did the speaker question her own research on charitable giving?

The speaker questioned her research because she personally did not feel the expected 'warm glow' when giving to charity, which contradicted the findings of her study.

What did the experiment with toddlers and Goldfish crackers reveal about the joy of giving?

The experiment revealed that toddlers exhibited joy not only when they received Goldfish crackers but were even happier when they gave some away to a puppet named Monkey.

What was the significant finding from the surveys of over 200,000 adults regarding charitable giving and happiness?

The surveys showed that people who gave money to charity were happier than those who did not, and the happiness boost from giving was comparable to having twice as much income.

How did the speaker's accountant influence her decision to give more to charity?

The speaker's accountant's disapproval during tax time made her realize she wasn't practicing what she preached, leading her to resolve to give more.

What is the 'Group of Five' program mentioned in the script?

The 'Group of Five' program is a Canadian initiative that allows any five Canadians to privately sponsor a family of refugees by raising funds to support the family for their first year in Canada.

Why is the 'Group of Five' program significant in the context of the speaker's research on happiness?

The 'Group of Five' program is significant because it provides a tangible way for individuals to make a direct impact and connect with the people they are helping, which aligns with the research showing that a sense of connection and envisioning the difference one's actions make enhances the happiness derived from giving.

What is the 'Plenty of Plates' program and how does it create moments of connection?

The 'Plenty of Plates' program is an initiative that invites people from the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, one of the poorest urban postal codes in Canada, to enjoy free three-course dinners at a local restaurant. It creates moments of connection by having local businesses sponsor the dinner and volunteers serve the meal, fostering interaction between the volunteers and the community members.

What advice does the speaker give to charities about rewarding donors?

The speaker advises charities not to reward donors with material items like pens or calendars, but instead to provide opportunities for donors to see the specific impact of their generosity and to connect with the individuals and communities they are helping.

How does the speaker suggest we should rethink giving in terms of human nature?

The speaker suggests that we should stop viewing giving as merely a moral obligation and start seeing it as a source of pleasure, recognizing that humans have evolved to find joy in helping others.