The Hidden Gift of Giving
When I was a kid and first heard Jesus’ statement that “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” I thought, “that doesn’t make sense for me. I’d much rather receive than give.” Over the years, I’ve, of course, changed. Now I am learning that there is scientific proof that the brain’s reward system is activated not by receiving, but by giving. It is more pleasurable to give, especially if done willingly.
We’ve just been through the Christmas season when part of the celebration is to generously give to others. Part of the reason we often feel better before Christmas is based on this willingness, and the desire, to give. According to the neuroscientists who are investigating how giving affects our brain, this is to be expected, for our brain is built for generosity.
In one experiment, subjects were placed inside a functional MRI scanner of their brain, and they they were asked whether or not they wanted to donate to a worthy charity. They also had the option to keep the money for themselves. When someone made the decision to make a donation rather than keep the money, the researchers wanted to see where that generosity originated in their brain.
They found that when subjects made the decision to donate to what they felt was a worthy organization, the part of the brain that lit up (meaning it had a lot more blood flow) was the same region that’s involved in our response to a good meal, to sex, or to discovering we had the winning lottery ticket. In other words, something happens in our brain that rewards us with good feelings.. This is especially true when our giving runs counter to our own selfish interests.
What happens when this part of the brain lights up? The extra blood flow causes the release of the pleasure hormone–dopamine. And the greater the pleasurable response of the brain, the more dopamine, and the more we are willing to give.
Question: What did you feel when buying presents for people this past Christmas?