Search....
CTRL+K
Search....
CTRL+K
Generosity is an interesting beast. As a charity CEO, I have seen it expressed in many different ways. The best kind of generosity comes with warmth and good old NSA – no strings attached. This kind of generosity is glorious to witness and is the backbone of charity work all over the world. The worst kind smacks you over the head with their husband’s cheque book.
I wrote a whole chapter about kindness and another on charity in my latest book, but I have continued to wonder about the ‘why’ of generosity. Why do some people give with nothing expected in return, even when they don’t have much themselves? Why do others use it to wield control and command kudos?
So I do what I always do when I don’t understand why people behave the way they do and I consult the neuroscientific research.
The origins of human generosity go back to when knuckle-draggers evolved into hunter-gatherers. Survival of the species relied on a herd mentality of care where older, fitter humans helped younger, slower, cuter ones. Those who didn’t participate in sharing or self-sacrifice for the herd were removed by natural selection. I wish stingy bastards in 2019 were the same: removed by natural selection.
Nature and nurture
According to science, humans are a combination of nature and nurture when it comes to generosity. The brain rewards you with a shot of feel-good dopamine when you are generous. That delicious hormone literally sizzles through your bloodstream when you take your imaginary generosity gland for a whirl. It is a biological boomerang: give to someone who needs it and the joy will bounce right back at you as a warm fuzzy feeling of reward and delight.
Humans employ two things when they are assessing whether to be generous: logic and empathy. The distraction of the decision-making part of the brain causes people to be more generous. Logic introduces an assessment of benefit and loss for giver and receiver. If the giver sees they can make a difference to the receiver without any significant loss to themselves, we have a winner in the logical generosity department!
Why so stingy?
So what makes a stingy bastard? Or worse, someone who is generous for all the wrong reasons. It seems to be the work of the nature/nurture/values trifecta. All three of which are done and dusted by the time humans are young adults. Meet an older person who lacks generosity and you really can’t convince them to repave their neural tendencies and nurtured behaviours with values of generosity and welfare. Unless you can appeal to their ego.
If you are born with less neural empathy (nature) than the next guy, you will be less likely to give. But that part of your brain is not fully developed until humans are 30. This explains why teenagers can be such breathtakingly selfish creatures. Teen brains lack neural empathy.
Article written by LUCY BLOOM and subscribe to our Podcast Channel
Kanya Sesser’s life story is a testament to No Legs No Limits and the power of resilience, determination, and self-belief. Born without legs and left outside a Buddhist temple in Pak Chong, Thailand, her journey from abandonment to becoming a celebrated athlete, model, and actress is nothing short of extraordinary. Early Life and Adoption In […]
Navigating Tomorrow: The Future of Hybrid Event Planning In the ever-evolving landscape of event planning, the emergence of hybrid events has marked a paradigm shift in how we gather, connect, and share experiences. As the world continues to grapple with the implications of a global pandemic, the hybrid model has proven to be more than […]
Meet Bronwyn and Duncan Hesketh chat with Duane Rockwell about who Speakers Inc and WeSpeak Global are, the history, why they do what they do and more. Bronwyn Hesketh always said that she has THE coolest job on the planet. She gets to work with extraordinary human beings on a daily basis, connecting them with audiences […]
Corporate Events for 2025 have always been pivotal in fostering professional connections, enhancing brand presence, and sharing groundbreaking ideas. In 2025, this industry is experiencing transformative changes fueled by technology, sustainability, and evolving attendee expectations. Below, we explore the top trends redefining corporate events this year. Emerging Trends in Corporate Events for 2025 1. Hybrid Events […]
THE AI WORKFORCE REVOLUTION: THE AUGMENTED FUTURE The world of work is constantly evolving, and as technology advances at an unprecedented pace, it is becoming increasingly clear that the workforce of tomorrow will look vastly different from the one we know today. A new term has emerged in this brave new world— the augmented workforce. […]
“Technology is exponential but humans are not and can do great things, but it does not WANT to do great things – it does not want anything” says Apple’s CEO Tim Cook (a quote I have often used in my talks). Technology is a tool not a purpose – see my ‘carpenter and the hammer […]
Why Felicia Pizzonia Is the Sales Speaker Your Next Conference Needs In today’s competitive market, sales isn’t just about closing deals, it’s about understanding human behavior, adapting your mindset, and building authentic connections. That’s exactly where Felicia Pizzonia excels. A best-selling author, dynamic entrepreneur, and sought-after keynote speaker, Felicia brings a powerful blend of science-backed […]
A common problem new pilots struggle with is avoiding a PIO or pilot-induced oscillation. So how do we Stop the Cycle as We’re all familiar with the concept of overcorrecting in a car. A deer runs out, you’re driving tired, you’re near the edge of the road, and you yank the wheel the other direction […]
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel
