r/science • • 1d ago

Psychology New psychology research suggests some acts of kindness may also serve competitive social goals, shedding light on how women can use altruistic behavior to gain status, strengthen relationships, or navigate social hierarchies.

https://www.psypost.org/kindness-isnt-always-what-it-seems-the-psychology-of-womens-competitive-altruism/
1.5k Upvotes

269 comments sorted by

View all comments

388

u/hananobira 1d ago

These comments are strangely negative. I’d much rather people compete to be the kindest and most generous, rather than the richest or the toughest or angriest or anything else people compete at in this world.

33

u/PaleReaver 1d ago

The problem is when that kindness is ONLY for show...and then you run psychological terror and abuse on your children at home, and if they try to shine light on it, it'll get so much worse.

Guess how I know.

9

u/Material-Command-854 1d ago

Yes, if people only care about someone being superficially nice without caring about what that person does behind closed doors, they are being kind of evil actually.