Greater Good

According to a new book, practicing civility at the office is the path to better relationships and higher productivity.

We round up the most-read Greater Good articles from the past year—and our editors pick the best of the rest.

Our team names the most provocative and influential findings published during this past year.

Five science-based strategies for the holidays (and the rest of the year).

Greater Good's editors pick this year’s most thought-provoking, important, or useful nonfiction books on the science of a meaningful life.

According to a new study, generous businesses inspire individuals to give, too—thanks to one particular emotion.

Hate crimes and hateful language are on the rise. What are you going to do about it?

A new study reveals how gender and social pressure drive unethical decisions.

New research reveals how our media choices reflect and shape our mood and behavior.

According to a new study, people who give more get more (if you know what we mean).

According to author Sebastian Junger, facing social isolation back at home deepens the trauma.

A new study looks at the emotional consequences of choosing to donate money to charity—or not.

Paul Piff, an assistant professor of psychology and social behavior at UC Irvine, explores his research linking awe to kind, generous behavior.

Full-length video for GGSC members: Paul Piff, an assistant professor of psychology and social behavior at UC Irvine, and Jakada Imani, director of capacity building initiatives at the Center for Popular Democracy, discuss how experiences of awe can inspire acts of goodness and greatness.

Recent research helps illuminate what's going on in our heads when we choose to give or to hold back.

According to a new study, we can encourage kids to be generous by reminding them of their past kindnesses.

According to new research, music helps synchronize our bodies and our brains.

According to a new book, most economists don't understand why people behave honestly, fairly, and generously.

According to a new study, "prosocial spending" may be as good for your blood pressure as a healthy diet and exercise.

According to Dacher Keltner, there are important evolutionary reasons: It's good for our minds, bodies, and social connections.

A new study fuses methods from several different branches of science to reveal the forces that shape kindness.

Research sometimes suggests that movies and other media are a negative influence to rein in. But new studies highlight their potential to spread goodness on a wide scale.

Our team names the most provocative and influential findings published during this past year.

Greater Good's editors pick this year’s most thought-provoking, important, or useful nonfiction books on the science of a meaningful life.

Laura Pinger and Lisa Flook share their lessons from creating a "kindness curriculum" for young students.

We round up the most-read Greater Good articles from the past year—and our editors pick the best of the rest.

According to a new book, practicing civility at the office is the path to better relationships and higher productivity.

Five science-based strategies for the holidays (and the rest of the year).

A new study asks: Is costly altruism motivated more by self-centered distress or a compassionate desire to relieve another person’s pain?

Hate crimes and hateful language are on the rise. What are you going to do about it?

New research is finding that being kind and giving to others can make our lives feel more meaningful.

This simple ritual offers clues about how we experience awe, society, and collective belonging.

We round up the most-read Greater Good articles from the past year—and our editors pick the best of the rest.

A new book takes aim at those who claim moral impulses are rooted in emotional ones.

According to Dacher Keltner, there are important evolutionary reasons: It's good for our minds, bodies, and social connections.

Several exercises to help you make the most of the International Day of Happiness.

According to new research, music helps synchronize our bodies and our brains.

Research shows that the spark of kindness resides in everyone, and even small school actions can fan that spark into a flame.

Research sometimes suggests that movies and other media are a negative influence to rein in. But new studies highlight their potential to spread goodness on a wide scale.

The most surprising, provocative, and inspiring findings published this past year.

Greater Good's editors pick the most thought-provoking, important, or useful nonfiction books published this year on the science of a meaningful life.

Anger has a place at work, Deanna Geddes and Dirk Lindebaum argue, as long as it meets three conditions. 


Research-based tips that draw from the GGSC’s new website, Greater Good in Action.

A new book argues that it is group needs, not individual intention and virtue, that drives altruism.

This simple ritual offers clues about how we experience awe, society, and collective belonging.

According to a new book, practicing civility at the office is the path to better relationships and higher productivity.

We round up the most-read Greater Good articles from the past year—and our editors pick the best of the rest.

Our team names the most provocative and influential findings published during this past year.

Five science-based strategies for the holidays (and the rest of the year).

Greater Good's editors pick this year’s most thought-provoking, important, or useful nonfiction books on the science of a meaningful life.

According to a new study, generous businesses inspire individuals to give, too—thanks to one particular emotion.

Hate crimes and hateful language are on the rise. What are you going to do about it?

A new study reveals how gender and social pressure drive unethical decisions.

New research reveals how our media choices reflect and shape our mood and behavior.

According to a new study, people who give more get more (if you know what we mean).

According to author Sebastian Junger, facing social isolation back at home deepens the trauma.

A new study looks at the emotional consequences of choosing to donate money to charity—or not.

Paul Piff, an assistant professor of psychology and social behavior at UC Irvine, explores his research linking awe to kind, generous behavior.

Full-length video for GGSC members: Paul Piff, an assistant professor of psychology and social behavior at UC Irvine, and Jakada Imani, director of capacity building initiatives at the Center for Popular Democracy, discuss how experiences of awe can inspire acts of goodness and greatness.

Recent research helps illuminate what's going on in our heads when we choose to give or to hold back.

According to a new study, we can encourage kids to be generous by reminding them of their past kindnesses.

According to new research, music helps synchronize our bodies and our brains.

According to a new book, most economists don't understand why people behave honestly, fairly, and generously.

According to a new study, "prosocial spending" may be as good for your blood pressure as a healthy diet and exercise.

Laura Pinger and Lisa Flook share their lessons from creating a "kindness curriculum" for young students.

How can parents help kids have a healthy relationship to money? It starts with overcoming shyness and discomfort about financial issues.

The most surprising, provocative, and inspiring findings published this past year.

Several exercises to help you make the most of the International Day of Happiness.

The most surprising, provocative, and inspiring findings published this past year.

Hate crimes and hateful language are on the rise. What are you going to do about it?

Research-based tips that draw from the GGSC’s new website, Greater Good in Action.

In an adaptation from his new book Altruism, Buddhist monk and bestselling author Matthieu Ricard takes on the notion that humans have a fixed nature.

New research is finding that being kind and giving to others can make our lives feel more meaningful.

Anger has a place at work, Deanna Geddes and Dirk Lindebaum argue, as long as it meets three conditions. 


A new study finds that feeling small in nature makes us more generous to other humans.

Research shows that the spark of kindness resides in everyone, and even small school actions can fan that spark into a flame.

According to Dacher Keltner, there are important evolutionary reasons: It's good for our minds, bodies, and social connections.

Greater Good's editors pick the most thought-provoking, important, or useful nonfiction books published this year on the science of a meaningful life.

Our new and deeper understanding of human development is reshaping how we think about education.

A new study maps what happens in our bodies and brains when we witness acts of kindness and compassion.

According to new research, music helps synchronize our bodies and our brains.

New research reveals how our media choices reflect and shape our mood and behavior.

A new study suggests that cultivating “pro-social” skills in schools might benefit public health and safety.

Research sometimes suggests that movies and other media are a negative influence to rein in. But new studies highlight their potential to spread goodness on a wide scale.

A new study suggests that strengthening the content of your character can make you beautiful.

According to a new study, we can encourage kids to be generous by reminding them of their past kindnesses.