
We spend much of our lives interacting with others. Every interaction creates an opportunity for niceness, neutrality, or rudeness. Do these everyday choices matter? Can small acts of niceness affect our world? “Previous studies have shown that these seemingly insignificant acts of niceness have many benefits, both for the recipients and those who manifest it. They translate into improved well-being, greater satisfaction with relationships, and the perception of the meaning of life. “Those who act friendly experience an increased sense of belonging, and they are less likely to struggle with loneliness or depression,” says the study co-author, psychologist Olga Białobrzeska, PhD, from the Faculty of Psychology at the SWPS University in Warsaw. The latest study authored by Białobrzeska and Aleksandra Cisłak-Wójcik from SWPS University, and Ilan Roziner from Tel Aviv University, investigated whether practicing niceness can build social capital, and increase the propensity to cooperate by strengthening social bonds. As expected, propensity for niceness was associated with a sense of social connectedness, and this predicted the willingness to cooperate. “It turns out that relatively small and simple gestures, such as smiling at others or using a warm tone of voice, may translate into larger scale effects. “Thus, our research offers practical implications for educational institutions, workplaces, social, political, and business organizations, on how to enhance social capital,” Białobrzeska emphasizes.
More: