Strangers Are Kinder Than We Think, Study Reveals

A new World Happiness Report highlights the stark contrast between perceptions and reality regarding stranger kindness, linking such trust to overall happiness.

A recent study featured in the World Happiness Report suggests that people tend to underestimate the kindness of strangers, indicating that strangers are, in fact, nearly twice as kind as individuals believe. The report, which was released to coincide with the UN's International Day of Happiness, assessed global happiness levels by investigating how many lost wallets were returned when deliberately dropped in various locations. Notably, the return rates of these wallets far exceeded public expectations.

John F. Helliwell, an economist at the University of British Columbia and a founding editor of the report, remarked that the evidence demonstrated that individuals experience greater happiness when they believe that others care about them. The overarching finding from the study indicated a general tendency to underestimate the goodwill of fellow humans, highlighting that wallets are more frequently returned than anticipated.

The World Happiness Report, now in its 13th year, ranks countries based on individuals' self-reported life satisfaction scores from 0 (the worst) to 10 (the best). Finland continued its streak as the world's happiest nation for the eighth consecutive year, achieving a score of 7.736. Both Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 list for the first time, while the United States and the United Kingdom fell to 23rd and 24th place, respectively—the worst ranking ever for the US.

Published by the University of Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre, the report revealed several intriguing insights: a decline in happiness and social trust in the US and parts of Europe was correlated with growing political polarization, while communal meals significantly contributed to global wellbeing. Moreover, household sizes of four to five individuals were linked with the highest happiness levels in both Mexico and European countries.

Jeffrey D. Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, underscored the report's conclusion that happiness thrives on trust and connections between people. He challenged citizens to act on this knowledge, emphasizing the importance of nurturing kindness and civility to uphold societal harmony. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for greater community engagement during times of social isolation and political discord to enhance both personal and societal wellbeing.