Happiness Runs in a Circular Motion: Evidence for a Positive Feedback Loop between Prosocial Spending and Happiness |
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Authors: | Lara B Aknin Elizabeth W Dunn Michael I Norton |
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Institution: | (1) Psychology Department, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall Vancouver, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada;(2) Marketing Department, Harvard Business School, Soldiers Field, Boston, MA, USA |
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Abstract: | We examine whether a positive feedback loop exists between spending money on others (i.e. prosocial spending) and happiness. Participants recalled a previous purchase made for either themselves or someone else and then reported their
happiness. Afterward, participants chose whether to spend a monetary windfall on themselves or someone else. Participants
assigned to recall a purchase made for someone else reported feeling significantly happier immediately after this recollection;
most importantly, the happier participants felt, the more likely they were to choose to spend a windfall on someone else in
the near future. Thus, by providing initial evidence for a positive feedback loop between prosocial spending and well-being,
these data offer one potential path to sustainable happiness: prosocial spending increases happiness which in turn encourages
prosocial spending. |
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Keywords: | |
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