Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.
Various reports from researchers have confirmed that acts of generosity are associated with some physiological (Seligman et al., 2005) as well as social benefits (Wilson and Musick, 1997, p. 699). One of the very important benefits that researchers have reported is the increased production of antibodies which are necessary in producing immune responses and thus protecting the body against infections (Brown et al., 2003; Field et al., 1998, Rosmond, Dallman, & Bjormtorp, 1998).
A healthy heart condition is also promoted as well as reduced body pain by increasing the speed at which endorphin flows in the brain (endorphin is a neurochemical possessing pain relieving properties).
An area involved in generous activities from time to time is likely to experienced reduced rates of deaths compared to one which do not engage in such activities. Generosity is also associated with the decrease of cortisol hormone levels. High levels of this hormone are known to cause stress and retention of fats in the stomach (Rosmond, Dallman, & Bjormtorp, 1998).
Field et al conducted an investigation on the effects of elderly people who volunteer to offer massage services to infants. Ten volunteers gave massages to infants after which their levels of cortisol and catecholamine were determined. According to the findings of the study, the levels of the two hormones were lower after the massages were given compared to the levels before the massages (Field, Hernandez-Reif, Quintino, Schanberg & Kuhn 1998, p. 233).
The endorphin hormone whose release is associated with generosity is composed of morphine which reacts with receptors involved with pleasure and pain. The advantage involved with endorphins is that they are released in many forms and hence are more effective in relieving pain than the artificial pain killers. In addition, they are not addictive as many of the man made pain killers are (Sternberg, 2001).
Engaging in generosity and other social activities helps promote one’s physical health by obtaining sensations in a similar way that people involved in physical exercises benefit (Luks, 1990, p. 42). As a result, feelings of depression and body ache experiences are lower in such people as they tend to get stronger and energetic.
According to Moll and colleagues, endorphins associated with selfless giving give one the feeling of well being (Moll, Kruger, Zan, Pardini, Souza et al, 2006, p. 15625).
A research conducted by Moll and colleagues involved participants who were required to donate $128.00 given to them to social activities but without giving their identities. The two activities were in support of rights to abortion and abolishment of death penalty. Through the use of the Functioning Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI), the researchers found out that giving donations resulted to activation of the brain’s reward centers in the participants who accepted the charity course.
The study also showed that engagement in generous acts activates the mesolimbic pathways of the brain which are involved in regulation of behavioral responses to stimuli that activate feelings of reward and motivation. The activation of the pathway is also responsible for responses to food, sex, drugs and money. Such individuals are therefore easy to respond to feelings and grow stronger emotionally (Moll, Kruger, Zan, Pardini, Souza et al, 2006, p. 15627).
The improvement of the cardiovascular system is another very significant effect of involvement in generous acts. Good cardiovascular heath helps in reduces attacks to the heart as well as improving the body’s immune response by promoting the production of antibodies.
A lot of stress causes negative effects on the cardiovascular and the immune systems by causing continuous flight and fight responses (Sternberg, 2001). The emotions involves when one engages in generous acts allows the body to maintain balance and reduce the risk of a rise in blood pressure through vasodilatation.
A study by Brown and colleagues looked at the relation between giving and rates of mortality. Couples that offered support to others either through social activities or personal assistance were found to have lower rates of deaths than those who were not (Brown, Neese, Vinokur, & Smith, 2003, p. 329).
Besides hormonal benefits, participation in social activities is also associated with psychological effects where one feels satisfied with life and practically lives a quality life. A feeling of well being and depression free is also a positive impact. In 1980, Hunter and Lin conducted an investigation which compared the well being of the elder volunteer social workers and the retired people who did not participate in any of these activities.
Since the study did not involve segmentation of the population, participation in volunteer activities was the only explanation behind the results which showed that the volunteers were less depressed; satisfied with the life they were living and had less physical problems (Hunter & Linn, 1981, p. 210). Similarly, a study by Wheeler and colleagues on generosity and its effects on quality of life confirmed that 85% of the volunteers they had studied lived a quality life compared to those who did not.
Involvement in social activities helps in building strong relationships with the community as a whole and also gives people the opportunity to experience life different from what they are used to. This connection within a community also promotes citizenship identity. As a result anti social behaviors especially among the youths are discouraged (Allen, Kupermic, Philliber & Herre, 1994). One is also in a position to nurture interpersonal relations, trust and above all, respect for all human being (Wilson & Musick, 2004).
Reference List
Ariely, D., Anat, B., & Stephan, M. (2009). Doing good or doing well? Image motivation and monetary incentives in behaving prosocially. American Economic Review, 99(1), 544-555.
Bandura, A. & McDonald, F.J. (1963). Influence of social reinforcement and the behavior of models in shaping children’s moral judgments. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(3), 274-281.
Brown, S. L., Neese, R. M., Vinokur, A. D., & Smith, A. D. (2003). Providing support may be more beneficial than receiving it: Results from a perspective study of morality. Psychological Science. 14, pp. 320-237.
Boyd, M. A. (2008). Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice. US: Lippinot Williams & Wilkins.
Carol, D. R., & Corey L. M. K. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719-727.
Claire, A. & Manuel, V. (2001). Developing Generosity: donating blood (3rd ed). New York Printing Press
Collett, J. L., & Morrissey, C. A. (2007). The Social Psychology Of Generosity. Web.
Dumont, F., Wedding, D., & Corsini, R. J. (2008). Current psychotherapies. New York: Cengage Learning.
Elliot, A. J., & Sheldon, K. M. (1998). Avoidance personal goals and the personality–illness relationship. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1282–1299.
Emmons, R. & McCullough, M. (2003). Counting blessing versus burdens: An experimental Investigation of gratitude and subjective well being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377-389.
Field, M. F., Hernandez-Reif, M., Quintino, O., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn C. (1998). Elderly retired volunteers benefit from giving massage therapy to infants. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 17, 229-239.
Fincham, F., & Julian, B. (1978). Disabled, Normal achieving, and Gifted Children. Child Development, 1978, 49, 530-533.
Granovetter, M. (1973). The Strength of Weak Ties. New York: Claredon Press.
Grant, A.M. (2008). Does intrinsic motivation fuel the prosocial fire? Motivational synergy in predicting persistence, performance, and productivity. Journal of Applied Psychology 93(1), 48-58.
Greenberg, J., (1982). Countering inequity with inequity: Over-rewarding generosity and under-rewarding greed. European Journal of Social Psychology, 12(2), 181–185.
Hunter, K. I., & . Linn, M.W. (1981). Psychosocial differences between elderly volunteers and non-volunteers. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 12 (3), 205–213.
Kradin, R. (2002). Generosity: a psychological and interpersonal motivational factor of therapeutic relevance. Journal of analytical psychology, 44 (2), 221-236.
LaFollete, H. (2002). Understanding ethics: theory and practice (2nd ed). Wiley – Blackwell.
Lewis, T., Amini, F., & Lannon, R. (2000). A general theory of love. New York: Random House.
Lightman, E. (1982) Continuity in social policy behaviors: The case of voluntary blood donation. Journal of Social Policy, 10 (1), pp. 53-79.
Luks, A. (1990). Helper’s high: Volunteering makes people feel good, physically and emotionally and like “runner’s calm” it is probably good for your health. Psychology Today, 22(10), 42-43.
Lyubomirsky, S., King, L.A., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 131, 803–855.
Mac Donald K. (1984). An ethological-social learning theory of development of altruism: Implications for human sociobiology. Ethology and Sociobiology 5, 97-109.
Machan, T. R. (1998). Generosity: Virtue in civil society. Washington, D.C: Cato Institute.
McCullough, M.E. (2002). Characteristics of Generosity. Journal of personality and social well being, 60 (4), 410-421.
Mark A. B., Laura, M. K., & Jeffrey, A. H. (1979). Inducing affect about self or Effects on generosity in children other: Developmental Psychology, 15(2), 164-167.
Moll, Jorge, Frank Krueger, Roland Zahn, et al. 2006. Human Fronto-Mesolimbic Networks Guide Decisions about Charitable Donation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103 (42): 15623–15628.
Mikulincer, M., and Shaver, P. R. (2007). Attachment in Adulthood: Structure, Dynamics, and Change. US: The Guilford Press.
Mikulincer, M., & Phillip, R. S. Does Gratitude Promote Prosocial Behavior? The moderating Role of Attachment Security.
Musick, M., and Wilson, J. (2003), ‘Volunteering and depression: the role of psychological and social resources in different age groups’, Social Science and Medicine, 56(2), pages 259–69.
Nelson-Jones, R. (2004). Cognitive humanistic therapy: Buddhism, Christianity and being fully human. London: SAGE.
Omoto, A. M., Snyder, M., & Stefan Stu¨rmer, S. S. (2005). Prosocial Emotions and Helping: The Moderating Role. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 88 (3), 532-546.
Polak, E. L., & McCullough, M. E. (2006). Is Gratitude an Alternative to Materialism? Journal of Happiness Studies, 7(3), 343–360.
Raatma, L. (2002). Generosity. Mankato: Capstone Press.
Rosenstock, I. M., Strecher, V. J., & Becker, M. H. (1988). Social Learning Theory and the Health Belief Model. Health Education Quarterly, 15(2), 175-183.
Rosmond, R., Dallman, M.F. & Björntorp P. (1998). Stress-Related Cortisol Secretion in Men: Relationships with Abdominal Obesity and Endocrine, Metabolic and Hemodynamic Abnormalities. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 83 (6), pages 1853-1859.
Richard, M. R., & Edward, L. (2000). Deci intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology 25, 54– 67.
Seligman, M. E., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2007). Positive Psychology: An Introduction. Web.
Seligman, P., & Park, N. (2005). Generosity and Psychological well-being. Social Psychology, 83, 112-127.
Sin, N. & Lyubomirsky, S. (2009). “Enhancing well-being and alleviating depressive symptoms with positive psychology interventions: A practice-friendly meta-analysis,” Journal of Clinical Psychology in Session, vol. 65(5): 467-487.
Smith, C. (2009). Science of Generosity. John Templeton Foundation.
Smith, C., Emerson, M. O., & Snell, P. (2008). Passing the plate : why American Christians don’t give away more money. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press.
Snyder, C. R., & Lopez, S. J. (2009). Oxford handbook of positive psychology. New York: Oxford University Press US.
Sternberg, E. M. (2001). Thebalancewithin: Thescienceconnecting health and emotions. New York: Freeman.
Spencer, H. (2009). The Principles of Psychology. BiblioBazaar.
Stephanie L. B., Randolph, M. N., Amiram, D. V., & Dylan, M. S. (2003). Providing social support may be more beneficial than receiving it: Results from a prospective study of mortality. Psychological Science, 14(4).
Stephen, G. P. Altruism, happiness, and health: It’s good to be good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12(2), 66-77.
Wilson, J., & Musick, M. (1997). Who cares? Toward an integrated theory of volunteer work. American Sociological Review, 62, pp. 694-713.
Zak, P., Stanton, A., & Ahnadi, S. (2007). Oxytocin increases generosity in humans. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.