Even though they often enhance happiness, acts of kindness, such as giving a friend a ride or bringing food for a sick family member, can be somewhat rare because people underestimate how good these actions make the recipients feel, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin.
The study finds that although givers tend to focus on the object they’re providing or the action they’re performing, receivers instead concentrate on the feelings of warmth the act of kindness has conjured up. This means that givers’ “miscalibrated expectations” can function as a barrier to performing more prosocial behaviors such as helping, sharing, or donating….