The Haitian Earthquake Brings Out the Good in Human Nature

We have been bombarded with reports and images of the recent Haitian earthquake from every side. We can not open a newspaper, turn on the TV or listen to the radio without hearing or seeing shocking images of this human catastrophe. Yet with these images comes a huge up swell of human generosity in response to the tragedy. It is as if the world is mobilizing to come to Haiti's aid. Why does this happen?


When we see the horrific pictures of crushed buildings, dead bodies, crying children, hopelessness and overall disaster, whether it be 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the Malaysian tsunami, or more recently, the Haitian earthquake, a strange occurrence happens. We feel empathy. We care about everything and are concerned for our fellow human beings. We are willing to give to people without expecting anything for ourselves. There seems to be an innate altruistic desire in most of us and we respond to this. Besides, it makes us feel good.



When we feel good after helping someone or giving to a charity, that "feel good" feeling is the same brain device that makes us feel good after eating a good meal, after sex, or after taking some drugs. There have been studies which link this well-being we feel to the hormone oxytocin.


Without getting too technical, oxytocin gets secreted into the bloodstream from the posterior pituitary gland. Women know of this hormone because it is the hormone which helps with birth and subsequent milk production after having a baby (from the Greek, meaning "quick birth"). However, when it is released into the brain, it can have direct effect on social behaviors, such as generosity.


Interestingly enough, there have been studies which showed individuals, who were given doses of oxytocin, gave more money to strangers than those people given a placebo. It was not that people wanted to give away money, but rather the hormone created a feeling of connection to other people, even if they were strangers- a sense of well being. It is basically the hormone that makes us care about other people.


This would, of course, explain why people are willing to give to victims of natural disasters so freely. When we see those heart wrenching pictures of the Haitian victims on the TV and listen to their stores, this causes a release of oxytocin to our brain, which in turn increases our oxytocin levels, and which in turn, boosts our generosity. We feel connected so we give.


Without this feeling of connection to each other, we would be just individuals. Even though we may give as individuals, it makes us connected as a human society, and this is good.


Candace C. Davenport is a retired attorney and published author whose love of writing led to co-founding a small independent publishing company, Our Little Books. Our Little Books (http://www.ourlittlebooks.com) is dedicated to publishing inspirational, educational and fun little books for pocket or purse.




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