People May Be Kinder Than You Think

You Should Know: Regularly reading internet comments might have you thinking people have recently gotten meaner. But a new Gallup poll of more than 2,000 American adults found quite the opposite. 60% said they regularly see people in their community treating each other with kindness and respect, and 65% said they had personally received a kind act from someone within the past week.

Going Deeper: Younger adults were less likely to witness or receive kindness than older adults, and only 35% said they would feel very comfortable initiating a kind act toward a stranger, compared to 64% of people 65 and older. So why’s that the case? Some experts point to growing up amid distressing events like a recession and pandemic, alongside online negativity and a common feeling of isolation.

Takeaway: Kindness is actually more common than we might assume, and the easiest way to close the gap between generations might be to offer it to strangers more often.

Bottom Line: One small gesture toward a stranger can set off a chain reaction of goodwill that ripples across the community and beyond. It’s also good for your health, since kindness has been linked to lower blood pressure and stress levels.