The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

The Kindness of Strangers

Sep 20, 2021

Delve into the tragic case of Kitty Genovese and the myth of bystander apathy. Discover how personal stories, from a soldier's bravery in Vietnam to a high schooler's journey of kindness after loss, challenge traditional theories. Uncover the surprising truth: people often want to help more than we think. Explore how fostering a culture of kindness can enhance community well-being and individual happiness, emphasizing the power of small acts of compassion.

32:25

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Bystander Effect: Courage and Inaction

10min

Bravery and Kindness Amidst Chaos

5min

Revisiting the Kitty Genovese Case

9min

Fostering a Culture of Kindness

4min

Kindness in Crisis: A High School Journey

8min

The Transformative Power of Kindness

3min

When Kitty Genovese was murdered, her family and the wider world was told that bystanders watched, but did nothing to intervene. Psychologists tried to explain this callous inaction with a popular theory - the "bystander effect".

Dr Laurie Santos was taught this theory - that most people won't in step help - but talking to Kitty's brother and Lady Gaga's mother she reveals that the "bystander effect" is wrong. People do like helping out, and we get a happiness boost from being kind. So how do we encourage more bystanders to intervene?

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