The dog-eat-dog version of human nature has been coming up against research that shows people are inherently altruistic and cooperative.
“We’re equipped with mechanisms for care and nurtuance,” says Emiliana Simon-Thomas, science director of the Greater Good Science Center. “And they’re as original as any we have for self-preservation and competition.”
For a peek into the evolution of our thinking about human nature, this collection of articles—originally published at Greater Good—touches on a range of aspects, from new research looking at our impulses to collaborate, our consumption patterns, and how we stack up in the animal kingdom.
The Compassionate InstinctA new study finds that our first, quickest impulse is to cooperate, not compete. Read more.
Do Givers Get Ahead?It’s the givers, not the takers, who thrive the most in business, argues a new book. Read more.
Birds Do It. Bats Do ItWhat can humans learn from other species about cooperation? Read more.
Connecting Through Collaborative Consumption
Could sharing and swapping goods online build a more cooperative society along the way? Read more.
This web extra provides additional information related to an article titled, “Kindness Evolution,” which appeared in the August 2013 issue of Mindful magazine.
