Simply Kind Tuesdays : Week 23 : How about a little kindness research?
I saw this piece?on Kindness in Australia at Australian Women Online and wanted to share this reseach with you.?
“Social Researcher Mark McCrindle discusses the research on altruism and kindness in 21st Century Australia. This research focused on acts of kindness and set out to ascertain Australians? experiences of giving and receiving.
“Mark McCrindle found that not only are we willing to help strangers in need, but acts of kindness far outnumber acts of violence. In the age old battle between good and evil, good deeds far outweigh evil doings, as for every act of violence to a stranger, there are 38 acts of kindness towards fellow Australians.
“How often do we help?:
“86% of Australians say they have helped a stranger in need, while 27% or 4.68 million say they show kindness every day and a further 29%, several times a week. T
“What is it that we do to help?
“McCrindle asked respondents what they did to help strangers. These are the top 5 categories of kindness:
“1. Help with shopping – 78% of Australians have helped a stranger when shopping such as picking up dropped items, or carrying someone?s bags.
“2. Help at an emergency ? 54% of Australians have assisted a stranger who has been involved in a fall, medical emergency or road accident etc.
“3. Help a stranger to gain access or mobility ? 51% of Australians have helped a stranger up stairs, across a road or to reach an item etc.
“4. Comfort a stranger – 49% of Australians have assisted a stranger who was visibly upset.
“5. Help with money ? 32.5% of Australians have given money to a stranger who was short on cash.
“We even help those who don?t need help!
- “61.5% Australians say they have done something nice for a stranger ?just for the sake of being kind? ? not because they were in any obvious need.?
- “Most of these (90%) said they would look to doing something nice for a stranger in no particular need in the future.
“How many of us have been shown kindness?
“39% of Aussies say they have been shown kindness by a stranger in the past week (from having a door held open or dropped items picked up), while more than 1 in 4 say they have been shown significant kindness by a stranger in the last week, such as being driven somewhere, given something, or have had a stranger go out of their way to help.
?”What motivates Australians to perform good deeds?
- “Altruism: 49.5% are motivated out of a sense of good will ? ?if somebody is in need I have to help out?.
- “Delight: 38.5% of Australians lend a helping hand to a stranger simply because of the joy they receive in putting a smile on another?s face!
- “God/belief in after-life: Only 8% perform good deeds because of religious beliefs.
“Who do we help?
“Australians are most likely to help the elderly (93%), children (63.5%) and women with children (30%). We are not as likely to approach a struggling dad (only 12%) and are more likely to come to the aid of someone of our own gender, while 42% say they would help out someone of their own ethnic group/culture first.
“Sources: McCrindle Research.
“Research method:National survey of 2500 Australians by McCrindle Research.”
(To read the entire article go to Australian Women Online.)
Let’s do our own little poll. ?If you can, please link back to this post so we can get as large of a sample as possible.?
Simply Kind Blogroll?
Join us by writing about kindness!
A Touch of Inspiration
By the light of the Moon
Confessions of a Middle-Aged Suburban Diva
Kim Smith ??
Miss Riss
Mom?s Musings
Not a Mean Girl
Popping Bubbles
Remote Treechanger
Storyteller
Waiting 4 the news
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Go, Australia! Nice to see that kindness does still reign and all is not doom, death and destruction.
On your poll, I would check all three options if I could, but I suppose it just makes me happy to see someone else happy, so I picked the second one.
Very interesting. It’s good to see that people are still concerned with being kind and helping their fellow humans out from time to time.
It’s funny though how little things that I feel should be automatic – reaching a high shelf in the grocery store for someone who can’t – are considered kindnesses. I guess I never thought of it at all, I just react and do it.
I hope this trend continues!
Dear Claudia,
I’m at work so I’ll be back to read your post but I just wanted to express my thanks to you for inspiring me by giving you the Lemonade Award. You can collect it at my blog.
Hugs!
Pamela
I think I’m going to move to Australia.
I’m glad I read this as I just posted a rant about the selfishness I observe around me much of the time. Everyone has bad days, and this was mine. I guess all one can do is try to set an example by determinedly sharing kindness, regardless of the behaviors being displayed by others.
Thank you for a most timely reminder, Claudia!
You have convinced me to move to Australia.