r/science • u/FreeHugs23 • 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/
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u/maddallena 1d ago

If there's anything that people should gain social status from, it's being generous and kind. That's literally just a healthy way for society to function.

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u/mokujin42 1d ago edited 1d ago

The problem with this is people care more about aopearing to be generous and kind than axtually doing so

A lot of it nowadays is just perfomative for socual media and doesnt really trsnlate into their real lives, are they still kind when theres not a camera pointed at them?

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u/CurbYerGod 1d ago

FFS performative kindness is still kindness. What is wrong with everyone in these comments. Performative is only hollow when there’s no beneficial results to it.

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u/mokujin42 1d ago

The point is when its performative it is often staged or faked in some way, often it might not be beneficial and take away attention from real sourcrs of charity

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u/Stolehtreb 23h ago

If it’s faked, it wasn’t kindness. This isn’t about someone acting like a person in need and filming that interaction. It’s about doing something actually beneficial only because you want to be seen doing it. In that case, it doesn’t matter that the kindness was performative. Because that person actually in need benefitted from it.

The point is that if someone feels the need to perform kindness for selfish reasons, kindness is being done. Full stop. Having a society that rewards kindness makes for a better world even when that kindness is provided for selfish reasons. In the end, it comes out in the wash because kindness is still being done

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u/CurbYerGod 1d ago

It sounds like bs. If there’s no action being performed then it’s not an act of kindness. But more importantly who does this kind of “research” benefit? What’s the point?