Kindness Lab

We’re complicated creatures, human beings. Every day we make thousands of decisions, including how we will treat others as well as ourselves. Empathy, compassion, and kindness play important roles in this decision-making, as well as in the survival of a species or group.

Our emotions, thoughts and behaviors intertwine to create the human experience, which can make kindness difficult to study. Fortunately, scientists have made progress uncovering the layers of our psychology and the dynamic balance of neurochemicals involved in complex brain functions. Every day, we learn a little bit more about what makes us tick, and what it means to be human.

This section is intended to describe, discuss and connect the concepts of kindness, providing a scientific explanation for these key human qualities. And while we can’t possibly cover everything, we will try to tackle the parts most relevant to our work: the impact of the media, how our brains, bodies and environments interact, and how behavior is affected.

This page will continue to grow, so please come back and visit us often. Our goal is to share an overview of contemporary understanding, to excite you about important research, and to make the science relevant.

So, enjoy! And let us know if there are areas we haven’t covered that you’d like to learn more about.