Blog Log 1 – Why We’re Sometimes Kind Without Reason

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/11/why-were-sometimes-kind-without-reason/281556/

I was very curious when I saw the title of this article. I was instantly intrigued by this topic and I wanted to learn more about human behaviour and human response. This article is interesting because it describes many reasons as to why we act the way we do in different situations without even noticing why we react that way. Our social responses occur even without conscious consideration. We adapt to our surrounding without realizing or being aware of our actions. In the article, it suggests that being high up, or even the act of ascending, like getting off an ascending elevator, seems to triggers nicer behaviour which I found was really interesting. The article also establishes that lab experiments have shown that it is proven that when people happen to be holding a hot drink rather than a cold one, they are more likely to trust strangers. The author of this article was very insightful about how the human brain works and how we think. It mentioned that we are much more trusting and generous when are met with a more tidier, well-kept setting rather than a shabby environment. We are accustomed to environments that we feel most comfortable in based on what we know and it can result in us unknowingly, to act more generously. As the neuroeconomist, Paul Zak said in the article, “The human brain is adaptive, and constantly tuning itself to the environment it is in,” Some things can trigger memories that produce feelings of safety or happiness and that can cause us to react in a more positive, kind way. This relates to the human condition because this is a way our minds process and how we interact with others.