Bringing Past Kindness Into the Present: Memories of Acts of Kindness Are Vivid, Memorable, and Feel Good

The current research is a contribution to the ongoing scientific efforts to understand the emotional implications of acts of kindness. While a large body of studies has examined the benefits of remembering past episodes of prosocial (monetary) spending toward others, considerably fewer studies have examined the implications of past acts of kindness. Additionally, the phenomenological experiences (e.g., the vividness and memorability) of such memories remain unexplored, even though the phenomenological experiences may contribute to the emotional implications of acts of kindness over time when recollecting these memories. The current work addresses these research gaps in two preregistered experimental studies. Specifically, we examined the well-being benefits of recalling memories of acts of kindness toward others and oneself, and how such memories are experienced by the remembering person. Study 1 (N = 521) showed that the kindness memories (compared to a memory control) were more easily recalled and experienced as more emotionally intense and positive. In addition, recalling acts of kindness toward oneself significantly increased hedonic, but not eudaimonic, well-being. In contrast, our results showed no significant increases in hedonic or eudaimonic well-being from recalling acts of kindness toward others. Study 2 (N = 513) attempted to replicate the findings concerning hedonic well-being, as well as to use a more sensitive tool to measure eudaimonic well-being at the state level. Analyses revealed that participants in both kindness conditions (self; other) experienced significantly more state eudaimonic and hedonic well-being than the control condition. We discuss various interpretations of our findings, including the possibility that systematic population differences shape the benefits of acts of kindness toward others.