Greater Good

Articles: People Who Trust Technology Are Happier

Whether you're religious or not, putting your faith in science and technology could be good for you, a new study suggests.

Articles: How Altruistic is Your Brain?

A new book argues that neuroscience findings suggest that altruism is not a response to moral authority, but rather a hard-wired instinct.

Articles: How Does Spirituality Grow in Children?

A new book explores how to raise children with a sense of awe and transcendence. But does the evidence back up its claims?

Articles: Monkeys for Equal Pay

And every cat for itself! A report on Frans de Waal's recent Greater Good Science Center talk.

Articles: Can Awe Boost Health?

A new study suggests we can add nature, art, and religion to life’s best anti-inflammatories.

Articles: Do We Need God to Feel Awe?

New studies are exploring the scientific basis for feelings of reverence and wonder.

Articles: Five Myths about Gratitude

Does gratitude make us lazy? Naive? Robert Emmons, the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, debunks some common myths and misconceptions.

Articles: How to Close the Gap Between Us and Them

A Q&A; with Moral Tribes author Joshua Greene about emotion, reason, and conflict.

Articles: Can Love Change the World?

Is there any scientific basis for believing that love can be a force for change in politics and economics? A Q&A; with Barbara Fredrickson, author of Love 2.0.

Articles: Finding Morality in Animals

Two new books explore research on animals to better understand the roots of human morality and challenge human specialness.

Articles: Is Gratitude the Path to a Better World?

An interview with Brother David Steindl-Rast, Benedictine monk, author, and leading figure in the worldwide gratitude movement.

Articles: Why Lent Makes People Happy (and Netflix Doesn’t)

New research suggests that cutting back on life’s pleasures helps us enjoy them significantly more.

Articles: The Case for Discussing Spirituality in Schools

Research suggests that spirituality may be a natural developmental process—so what does this mean for secular schools?

Research Digest Items/Studies: Does Religion Make You Healthier in Old Age?

Articles: How Does Religion Shape Compassion?

A GGSC-sponsored study found that compassion is less important for moving religious people to perform acts of kindness. But that doesn't mean they are less compassionate!

Articles: Religious People Less Motivated by Compassion than Atheists

In three experiments co-sponsored by the GGSC, scientists found that compassion drove less religious people to be more generous.

Articles: How Altruistic is the Greater Good Community?

The results are in from the Greater Good altruism quiz—and it turns out that gender, age, and income have significant connections to generosity.

Research Digest Items/Studies: Are Religious People Happier?

Articles: Here’s How Grateful You Are

The results are in from the Greater Good gratitude quiz. Seems like you've been keeping a gratitude journal, haven't you?

Articles: The Ancient Heart of Forgiveness

Jack Kornfield shares extraordinary stories of forgiveness--and explains how the next story could be yours.