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In today's world, marked by conflicts, crimes, and misunderstandings, it's easy to lose faith in humanity. Additionally, the fact that science often confirms our darker, irrational impulses can leave us feeling like humanity is beyond hope.
But all is not lost. As the following studies reveal, humanity—though imperfect—still has redeeming qualities.
10. Lying Harms Us Physically
We may think that lying is simply a part of everyday human interaction, but based on how our bodies respond, it seems that humans aren't inherently inclined to deceive.
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Notre Dame found that individuals who lie more frequently tend to experience more frequent illnesses compared to those who refrain from lying. This conclusion was drawn after observing two groups over a 10-week period, with one group instructed to consciously avoid telling lies.
By the end of the 10 weeks, the group with no guidelines showed a higher rate of illnesses like headaches and anxiety disorders in comparison to the group that avoided lying. The researchers also observed that the more honest group showed improved overall health and had better social interactions just five weeks into the study.
9. Crisis Situations Spark Acts of Altruism
It’s easy to assume that during large-scale disasters, such as terrorist attacks or natural calamities, people panic and focus solely on their own survival. However, research reveals the opposite. Not only do people tend to stay calm in these situations, but they are also more likely to assist one another. While crimes do occur during these times, they are rare compared to the widespread acts of altruism and cooperation.
Disasters have the power to increase people’s selflessness and foster a sense of solidarity, which, in turn, can help individuals endure the crisis. In fact, the human brain may have been wired from the beginning to assist others. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany found that 18-month-old toddlers showed signs of altruism on their own, even without being taught social norms. And speaking of altruistic infants…
8. Infants Have an Innate Sense of Morality
We’ve previously highlighted how babies are more intelligent than we often give them credit for. However, for researchers at Yale University, intelligence isn’t the only thing babies come equipped with from birth. According to their theory, babies also possess an inherent understanding of right and wrong.
To demonstrate this, the researchers showed babies a series of puppet performances, some featuring puppets engaging in good actions and others performing bad ones. Afterward, they offered the puppets to the babies. The majority of the babies (8 out of 10) selected the good puppets. In another experiment, the researchers placed treats next to each puppet, allowing the babies to take treats from any of them. Most infants and toddlers took the treats from the puppets they had observed misbehaving.
7. We Are Hardwired for Empathy and Kindness
Our brains are wired for empathy to such a degree that we respond to the pain of our loved ones as though it were our own.
In an experiment conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia, participants were exposed to the threat of electric shocks while their brain reactions were tracked using MRI scans. As expected, the participants (all young adults) showed increased activity in brain areas linked to the threat. Surprisingly, the same brain regions were activated when the participants witnessed their friends facing the same threat. The researchers also discovered that simply holding a friend’s hand during the experiment significantly reduced the threat's impact and lowered stress levels.
The researchers attribute this phenomenon to evolution allowing our brains to align with others, thereby expanding our social connections and improving our chances of survival.
6. Superstitions Benefit Humanity
Although it may seem paradoxical that irrational beliefs could be helpful, humanity has greatly benefitted from superstitions. Our ancestors’ beliefs in things like the healing properties of certain plants may have stemmed from real beneficial actions that were not yet understood.
Even today, superstitions continue to play a role in society by helping individuals maintain their mental well-being and retain some level of control over their everyday experiences. Research has shown that superstitions can lead to positive outcomes, as seen in a study where participants performed better in golf because of their faith in lucky charms or the perceived luck of their golf balls.
5. Fathers Play a Hands-On Role in Raising Their Children
Fathers in America have even more reason to wear that “Best Dad Ever” shirt. A four-year study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention challenges the stereotype of the distant father who avoids parenting duties. Of the roughly 4,000 fathers surveyed, a significant majority reported actively participating in their children's lives, including changing diapers, assisting with homework, and simply engaging with them on a regular basis. Around 90 percent of the fathers felt they were excelling at their role as a parent.
While the study relied on self-reported data, the researchers view it as meaningful because it complements other studies that emphasize how a father’s involvement leads to healthier, more disciplined children.
4. Acts of Kindness Spark Further Acts of Kindness
Professor Adam Grant from the Wharton School of Business at UPenn asserts that the most powerful motivator for people to keep working is not personal reward. Instead, it’s the satisfaction of knowing their work has made a positive difference in the lives of others.
Grant backed up this idea with a 2007 study where he assigned call center employees at a public university the task of soliciting donations. After engaging with scholarship recipients, the employees spent twice as much time on calls and raised three times the usual amount of money.
In a different experiment, Grant studied lifeguards as subjects. Those who read stories about their colleagues saving lives worked significantly more hours than those who did not. The knowledge of the positive impact of their work motivated them to contribute even more.
3. People Would Likely Use Superpowers for Altruistic Purposes
In stark contrast to their famous prison experiment from decades ago, recent research conducted by Stanford University staff suggests that humans can be trusted with power—even superpowers.
For this study, participants were given a virtual task to find a young diabetic and administer an insulin shot. One group was given the ability to fly, while the other was provided with a helicopter to pilot. Although this setup didn’t cover every potential scenario involving superpowers—the good deed was required, and the participants were observed, with powers like telepathy and X-ray vision excluded—it led to some intriguing findings.
After the virtual task, each participant had a one-on-one interview where the experimenter tested their empathy by pretending to drop a few pens on the floor. Those with superpowers were significantly faster at helping, retrieving the pens three seconds quicker than those operating the helicopter. Additionally, the super-powered individuals picked up 15 percent more pens than their counterparts.
2. Human Evolution Is Accelerating
In contrast to the common belief that human evolution has come to a standstill, researchers from the University of Wisconsin have discovered that humans are evolving at a faster rate than ever before in history.
Their findings show that humans have evolved 100 times faster in the past few millennia compared to our distant ancestors. For instance, Europeans and Asians have developed distinct physical traits in a short time due to divergent evolution. Even more rapidly, certain African populations have developed resistance to diseases like malaria. The most evident sign of this quick human evolution is the gene that allows people, particularly in Europe, to overcome lactose intolerance.
The researchers also suggest that a larger global population speeds up human evolution even more. And as for the pressing question on many minds, it seems humans won’t be gaining superpowers anytime soon—a bit of a letdown, especially considering that . . .
1. World Peace Is Within Our Reach
It’s easy to assume that chaos or World War III is imminent. However, according to Harvard professor and psychologist Steven Pinker, we are actually living in one of the most peaceful times in history.
While our modern era has experienced its share of devastating large-scale wars, the number of casualties in these conflicts is far lower compared to those of earlier times. Today, wars are more the exception than the norm, unlike in the past, when warfare was a regular occurrence. Additionally, personal violence and brutal practices have significantly decreased. Pinker attributes this ‘Long Peace’ to the advancement of civilization.
Professor Havard Hegre from the University of Oslo concurs, even predicting that by 2050, the world could become more peaceful than ever.
