Spreading Love Through the Media: Introduction to Love Research

What Is Love?

Love is at the heart of the human story. It connects us to each other, drives us to nurture and protect, and gives richness and meaning to our lives. Though love can feel like a mystery—a force beyond science—research reveals its deep roots in our biology and its core role in our survival as a species. 

While romantic love often steals the spotlight, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Love comes in many forms—compassionate, companionate, love for family, friends, and even strangers—each serving a unique role. What unites them is that they all involve: 

1. a deep, unselfish commitment to serve/promote/nurture another person’s well-being—even to put their interests before your own;
2. emotional, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions—they involve our feelings toward others (in a fleeting moment or over long periods of time), our perceptions of them (we really see them), and actions we take to support them or express our care for them.

In that light, love doesn’t just give us warm feelings and inspire affection and devotion. It also helps us bridge divides, cooperate, and promote collective well-being. Love is key to leading a flourishing, meaningful life. This more expansive view of love is central to our “Spreading Love Through the Media” initiative.

Below, we summarize the different kinds of love that we are especially interested in exploring through this initiative.

• Self-love rests on three pillars: (a) Self-contact means paying attention to yourself; (b) self-acceptance is embracing all parts of yourself—strengths and flaws alike; and (c) self-care turns this awareness into action towards nurturing your well-being. Researchers distinguish self-love from narcissism or selfishness; some studies suggest that self-love and related concepts, like self-compassion, are good for your mental health and your relationships with others.
• Romantic love is described as a dynamic blend of three elements: passion, intimacy, and commitment. Passion fuels the initial spark and physical attraction between partners. Intimacy builds the emotional closeness and trust that bind partners together, creating a sense of shared connection. Commitment ensures the relationship's longevity by solidifying dedication and partnership through life's ups and downs. Together, these elements work synergistically, forming the foundation of a lasting and meaningful bond.
• Familial love is the deep, enduring love shared among family members, particularly between parents and children, often rooted in selflessness and sacrifice. Researchers view this love as instinctive and deeply tied to our evolutionary history, growing naturally through shared experiences, familiarity, and mutual dependence.
• Companionate love is a steady, enduring love built on intimacy, commitment, and mutual care. It’s the warmth of deep connection, the security of unwavering support, and the quiet joy of shared lives. Found not only in partnerships like marriage but also in friendships (also referred to as philia), neighborly ties, and even workplace connections.
• Compassionate love centers on feelings and behaviors of caring, concern, and tenderness toward others, regardless of whether you are related to them or believe that your care will be reciprocated, with an orientation toward supporting, helping, and understanding them. It is closely linked to the concept of altruistic love, a deep desire to help others without expecting personal gain or anything else in return. 
• Loving across differences is based on research on intergroup relations showing that we can bridge boundaries by expanding our sense of self to include others—even those we see as different from us. A key step in this process, called "self-expansion," broadens our identity to encompass the identities and perspectives of other groups.
• Love of strangers and humanity is a universal love that transcends personal ties, embodying care for all—even those we’ve never met. Rooted in empathy and feelings of connection to our shared human family, it inspires selfless action to ease suffering, protect rights, and foster global kinship. The related concept of agape is unconditional and boundless love—love beyond race, creed, or circumstance, celebrated in world religions and deeply tied to compassion and altruism.

Beyond these concepts, our project is interested in other expressions of love, albeit to a lesser extent. Love of animals and pets reflect our deep connection to other living beings, fostered through care, adoration and companionship. Love of nature (biophilia) awakens awe and gratitude for the natural world, grounding us in our place within it. Divine love, a transcendent bond with the sacred or spiritual, offers profound meaning and connection beyond the self. Erotic love, which emphasizes physical attraction and sexual desire, enriches human relationships but lies further from the heart of our current initiative.

Taken together, these forms of love highlight the vastness of human connection, yet love is not experienced in a vacuum—it is deeply shaped by the cultures in which we live. Across the globe, love reflects unique values, traditions, and worldviews. In individualistic societies, love often emphasizes personal choice and emotional fulfillment, with romantic love taking center stage. In contrast, collectivistic cultures tend to weave love into duty and family harmony, where practical considerations—such as how a partner fits within the family or community—take precedence. For example, in Latin American cultures, Simpatía, a value emphasizing kindness, politeness, and consideration of others, reflects a deep commitment to harmony and collective well-being. Some forms of love, like agape​​—a Greek term often used to describe a selfless, unconditional love rooted in care and compassion for others—transcend cultural boundaries, embodying selflessness and care. Yet even these shared experiences are shaped by cultural nuances: In some Sub-Saharan African cultures, agape is deeply tied to communal care, while in Brazil and Portugal, it is associated with spiritual devotion and religious traditions. These variations remind us that while love connects us all, its expressions are as rich and diverse as humanity itself.

But love isn’t all light; research reveals its darker edges. Obsessive or addictive love can blur the line between Infatuation and desperation, where desire morphs into need, and self-worth hinges on another person. Studies reveal that people in the grip of love addiction often feel unworthy and cling to partners out of a consuming fear of abandonment, leading to cycles of dependency and lost identity​.

And when love goes unreturned or ends, the toll can be just as hard. Heartbreak and unrequited love activate brain regions involved in physical pain, suggesting just how powerfully love affects us, both in moments of joy and in the depths of loss. Grief, that all-consuming ache, arises from losing those we love, pulling us into waves of sorrow that feel inescapable; according to psychiatrists Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1972) and John Bowlby (1980), grief is the cost of love. 

The Biology of Love

To further understand love—and how to nurture and expand it—we must ask: Why do we love? 

Evolutionary scientists see the origins of love as an integral part of our adaptive success as a species. As Anna Machin writes in Why We Love, “Love stems from cooperation, and cooperation is our route to survival.” Love didn’t just appear as a romantic ideal; it evolved as a powerful motivator, driving early humans to form lasting social bonds, protect one another, and create communities that ensured survival. Those capable of love forged the connections necessary to thrive, pass on their genes, and shape the future of our species.

This perspective suggests that love is not simply a feeling—it’s a core biological drive that fundamentally shaped who we are today. In species like humans, where we have fewer children but invest heavily in their survival, caregiving motivated by love isn’t optional—it’s essential. Parents evolved to be hyper-attuned to their infants' needs, instinctively responding to distress with nurturing and protective behaviors. This deep drive to nurture is evident in the powerful biological systems involved in love.

At the heart of love’s biology is the vagus nerve, a critical system for our body’s ability to restore calm, connect in trusting and friendly ways, and give care. The vagus nerve descends from the brain into the body, influencing physical structures and processes that are essential for social affiliation and interaction: the vocal cords, lungs, heart, gut, facial muscles involved in expressing emotions, and even parts of the middle ear key to hearing and processing the frequencies of the human voice. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that compassion and love are associated with robust vagus nerve activity.

Oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” plays a central role in bonding between parents and children. It also fosters intimacy and long-lasting connection in adult relationships, working alongside the hormone vasopressin to strengthen lasting trust and deepen bonds.

Dig deeper, and you’ll find love’s roots in our brains as well. As love drives us to connect, we see activity in the orbitofrontal cortex that links feelings of pleasure and joy with perceptions of people we love. Dopamine pathways that ignite the anticipation and reward of connection are also involved, abetted by input from Oxytocin. Love can also engage the brain’s pain-relief centers, showing how love can both soothe us—emotionally and physically—in moments of distress, and embolden us to rescue others from harm even under our own duress.

Love, then, is more than a fleeting emotion. It is a biological force, coursing through our bodies, shaping our hearts, minds, and even our survival. It’s not just what makes life beautiful—it’s what makes life possible.

The Benefits of Love

Love may have played a vital role in our evolutionary history, but why does it matter for our lives today? It can seem light and pleasurable but lacking real weight--the stuff of pop songs and romantic comedies.

Yet research suggests its impact is varied and profound, extending well beyond our close relationships. Scientists have identified many benefits for our physical and mental health, the strength of our communities, and even the well-being of our planet.

Physical

• Longevity and Health: Loving relationships aren’t just heartwarming—they’re life-sustaining. Research shows that people with loving social relationships enjoy longer lives and are less likely to face premature death. Consider this: the death of a spouse increases the risk of early death by a staggering 48%. These findings are a profound reminder that love doesn’t just enrich life; it extends it.
• Heart Health: Recent research shows time with romantic partners is associated with reduced markers of cardiovascular disease, underscoring the heart’s literal and figurative connection to love.
• The Power to Ease Pain: Feeling loved and truly understood doesn’t just lift our spirits—it can lessen physical pain. When people feel genuine empathy from someone else, their pain levels decline. Even viewing images of a supportive romantic partner can reduce feelings of pain.
• Protection from Stress: Feeling compassionate love for others doesn’t just soothe the mind—it protects the body. One study found that people who felt compassion for others experienced lower blood pressure and reduced stress hormones—showing how caring deeply for others can boost our own physical health.

Psychological 

• Mental Health: Loving, secure relationships are associated with better mental health, including lower rates of depression and anxiety.
• Emotional Well-Being: Compassionate love—both giving and receiving it—significantly enhances emotional well-being in older adults, including increased positive emotions and decreased negative emotions, underscoring the sustaining power of love on well-being as we age.
• Psychological Flourishing: The Harvard Study of Adult Development, which has tracked participants for over 80 years, found that the single most powerful predictor of a flourishing life wasn’t wealth or career success—it was love. Those with strong, loving relationships lived longer, healthier, and happier lives.
• Reduced Substance Abuse: In Indigenous communities, love—expressed in rituals and relationships—has been associated with lower rates of alcohol abuse, suggesting that love has the power to uplift individuals and protect them from self-destructive behaviors.

Romantic

• Beyond Togetherness: Love’s true power lies not in simply being together, but in how deeply you connect. High-quality romantic relationships, defined by mutual affection, support, and satisfaction, elevate happiness and life satisfaction. But poor-quality relationships—those lacking emotional warmth or marked by dissatisfaction—can drain well-being, sometimes leaving people feeling worse off than being single.
• Love’s Best Friend: Couples who bond over their pet dog report greater relationship satisfaction, closeness, and empathy, as caring together for their pet becomes a shared act of love.
• Ripple Effects: Research suggests that loving romantic relationships and marital satisfaction can motivate partners to connect with other people and contribute to society. In other words, romantic love might strengthen our capacity to build a better world together.

Kids and Families

• From Parents to Kids: Positive interactions between parents don’t just stay between them—they spill over, shaping their children’s lives by strengthening emotional resilience, social skills, and even academic performance. Love, it turns out, doesn’t just lift spirits—it builds futures.
• From Teachers to Kids: The quality of a student’s relationship with their teacher can shape their entire academic journey. Positive connections fuel academic engagement and achievement. But when relationships turn negative, they can lead to disengagement and risky behavior. The takeaway is clear: Nurturing these bonds in the classroom has the power to change a child’s trajectory for the better.

Community 

• Bridging Social Divides: Love doesn’t just help individuals; it can transform societies. Compassionate love helps reduce prejudice and build empathy and acceptance of people from different backgrounds, such as immigrants.
• Fostering Cross-Racial Connections: Feelings of intimacy and closeness seem to bridge racial differences. In a study where Black and white participants shared personal stories with one another in response to increasingly intimate questions, they reported higher levels of compassionate love for each other—especially when each of their romantic partners was present, illustrating how can love help us see others in a new light.
• Love of Humanity: Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson argues that cultivating “weak ties”—even something as simple as sharing a smile with a stranger—can nurture feelings of love for all of humanity. Her research has found that these micro-moments of interpersonal connection ignite kindness and warmth toward the world around us.

Environmental 

• Witnessing Love Inspires a Love for Nature: Watching acts of compassion and kindness does more than just lift our spirits—it widens our circle of care to encompass the planet. Witnessing love, research suggests, can be the spark that turns caring for people into caring for the Earth.
• Love Beats Fear in Inspiring Action: When it comes to protecting our planet, messages that spark love for nature are far more effective than those that emphasize destruction, fear, and loss.

How to Cultivate Love

It certainly seems like we could use more love in the world these days. Fortunately, research has started to identify some important factors and techniques that can help us get there.

Here is an overview of some of the studies suggesting how we can help more people feel loved and behave in a more loving way.

Nurturing Love in Kids

• Nurture Secure Connections: Our “attachment style” describes how we relate to a partner in a romantic or other close relationship, and it is shaped by our experiences early in life. When a child’s relationship with a parent or caregiver is characterized by trust, emotional safety, and consistent care, they are more likely to develop a secure attachment style--a strong foundation for love. Research shows that secure attachment in infants enhances their emotional regulation and ability to connect deeply, reinforcing the capacity to both give and receive love over the life span.
• Dedicated Attention: Research shows that caregivers working with smaller adult-to-child ratios or in smaller group settings can engage in more nurturing, responsive, and emotionally supportive interactions. These moments of focused care not only deepen the bond between caregiver and child but also cultivate love within the child, fostering emotional security, reducing stress, and nurturing their capacity to love and connect with others.
• Othermothering: Othermothering, a practice rooted in the Black community, involves extending care, advocacy, and cultural understanding to children beyond one’s own. Othermothers not only help children feel seen and valued but also demonstrate to teachers how to build more compassionate, culturally sensitive relationships with their students, particularly in predominantly White institutions—demonstrating how love can heal and unite across divides.

Strengthening Romantic Relationships

• Help Each Other Feel Heard: Active listening means truly hearing and understanding your partner’s needs and emotions. When a partner feels understood, validated, and cared for, trust and intimacy deepen, cultivating a lasting love that supports the relationship through both challenges and joys.
• Share Exciting Experiences: To cultivate love in relationships, try engaging in exciting, active experiences together. Couples who share thrilling experiences feel closer and more satisfied, as these moments foster “self-expansion”—broadening each person’s sense of identity and connection by incorporating new aspects of their partner’s world.
• Practice Gratitude: When people experience gratitude for kind things their romantic partner does for them, they feel more joy and connection in their relationship, creating a positive cycle that brings partners closer together. Expressing gratitude for a partner’s efforts to grow or adapt makes those changes more likely to occur, which could help enhance the overall quality of the relationship. Even observing gratitude inspires a ripple of kindness, encouraging acts of love and building more connected communities.

Bridging Divides Between Groups

• Recall Acts of Compassionate Love: To cultivate love across divides, try reflecting on a time when you felt a deep urge to help someone selflessly. Studies show that recalling such moments of compassionate love can shift perspectives, fostering greater warmth and acceptance—even toward those outside our familiar circles.
• Share Personal Stories: Research shows that sharing personal, emotionally authentic details with someone from a different background builds warmth and compassion, creating positive feelings that extend across racial and cultural lines.

Boosting Love In the World

• Imagine a Caring Figure: For those who didn’t grow up with secure attachments to a parent or caregiver, simply imagining a caring, supportive figure—a person who embodies warmth and safety—can open the door to greater compassion, kindness, and altruism, regardless of past attachment experiences.
• Cultivate Self-Love: This tiny but powerful “micropractice” invites you to place your hands over your heart or belly while offering yourself loving thoughts, such as, “How can I be a friend to myself in this moment?” Doing this 20 seconds per day can boost self-compassion, lower the stress hormone cortisol, and reduce stress and mental health challenges.
• Practice Meditation: Practices like lovingkindness, compassion, and appreciative joy meditation nurture prosocial emotions, break down biases, and foster altruism. Lovingkindness meditation boosts generosity and goodwill, compassion meditation dissolves “us vs. them” barriers, and appreciative joy helps us celebrate others’ successes, growing love and connection beyond familiar circles.
• ​​Foster Love Through Media: Music and stories with messages of kindness are more than entertainment—they’re catalysts for love and connection. Songs with altruistic messages can boost empathy, inspiring real-world acts of generosity and care. Similarly, stories of people selflessly helping others, especially in challenging times, uplift and motivate us to extend support to family, friends, and even strangers.
• Use a Photo: Seeing a real face can make all the difference. Research has found that adding a simple photo of a person to a story of need—like a picture of a child in need of medical care—increases generosity far beyond what other identifying details can achieve.
• Find Common Ground: Love often grows from shared connections. Research shows that even small commonalities—like a favorite team, shared perspective, common goal, or moving in sync—can unlock our natural compassion and generosity toward others.

Study Summaries

Below we summarize individual studies that zero in on specific benefits of love or highlight specific actions we can take to increase love in ourselves, others, and the world. 

Studies on The Benefits of Love

Physical
Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., & Layton, J. B. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: A meta-analytic review. PLoS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316

Loving relationships are not just nice to have—they’re crucial to our survival. In this comprehensive analysis of 148 studies covering 308,849 participants, people with stronger social bonds had a 50% greater chance of living longer than those with weaker connections. This effect on mortality is as significant as quitting smoking and surpasses many other known health risks, like obesity or lack of exercise. Importantly, it didn’t matter if the social support came from friends, family, or community involvement—any type of strong, loving relationship increased survival odds. These findings suggest that fostering and maintaining close, loving connections may be one of the most effective things we can do for our longevity​.

Psychological

Kahana, E., Bhatta, T. R., Kahana, B., & Lekhak, N. (2020). Loving Others: The Impact of Compassionate Love on Later-Life Psychological Well-being. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 76(2), 391–402. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa188

Tracking 334 older adults in Miami at three different time points over two years, this study found that those who gave and received more compassionate love experienced fewer symptoms of depression, a reduction in negative emotions, and an increase in positive emotions over time. Even as the participants aged and faced potential losses in social roles and physical ability, the mental health benefits of compassionate love remained strong. The study's results suggest that love, in its many forms, can deeply enrich our lives and help older adults remain resilient as they navigate the challenges of aging.​

Romantic

Esfahani, A., Heidari, H., Pirzani, Z., & Davodi, H. (2023). The Structural Model of Predicting Social Interest Based on Interpersonal Relationships and Satisfaction of the Relationship with the Mediating Role of Love in Couples. Journal of Applied Family Therapy, 4(4), 17–34. https://doi.org/10.22034/AFTJ.2023.370243.1825

Researchers analyzed data from 305 participants and found that strong interpersonal relationships and high marital satisfaction motivate people to want to improve society. Love amplifies this effect: Couples who experience deeper emotional bonds and satisfaction in their relationships are more likely to channel these strengths into a greater commitment to contribute positively to their communities. The findings underscore that cultivating love and meaningful partnerships doesn’t just enrich personal lives—it creates a foundation for collective well-being.

Kids and Families

Don, B. P., Simpson, J. A., Fredrickson, B. L., & Algoe, S. B. (2024). Interparental Positivity Spillover Theory: How Parents’ Positive Relational Interactions Influence Children. Perspectives on Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916231220626 

Positive interactions between parents—such as expressing gratitude, sharing good news, and laughing together—do more than just strengthen their bond; they profoundly influence their children’s emotional and social well-being, such as by strengthening their feelings of emotional security, conveying that they live in a stable, supportive family environment, and modeling positive social behaviors that kids can emulate. These benefits accumulate over time, contributing to children’s improved mental health, better interpersonal relationships, and greater resilience. This research underscores that love, expressed through everyday acts of positivity between parents, creates a foundation of security and growth for children to thrive​.

Community

Sinclair, L., Fehr, B., Wang, W., & Regehr, E. (2015). The Relation Between Compassionate Love and Prejudice: The Mediating Role of Inclusion of Out-Group Members in the Self. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 6(1), 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550615609736 

Across four studies, the researchers found that people high in compassionate love held significantly more positive attitudes toward immigrants and other marginalized groups. This wasn’t only observed among people already high in compassionate love: When the researchers boosted people’s feelings of  compassionate love in the lab, those people showed less prejudice than those who were not made to feel more compassionate love, providing further evidence that this type of love can indeed be cultivated to combat bias. This study highlights compassionate love’s potential as a transformative tool in building more inclusive societies, suggesting it could be a powerful antidote to prejudice.

Environmental 

Diessner, R., Klebl, C., Mowry, G., & Pohling, R. (2022). Natural and moral beauty have indirect effects on pro-environmental behavior. Ecopsychology, 14(2), 84–94. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2021.0038

In this study, researchers exposed participants to videos depicting acts of “moral beauty,” which is when people do very kind or compassionate acts for others. The researchers found that although watching these virtuous acts didn’t directly prompt eco-friendly behaviors, it sparked profound emotional responses that fostered a sense of unity and responsibility toward the Earth. This emotion, called “moral elevation,” was associated with greater motivation to donate to environmental causes and commit to eco-conscious behavior. Just as awe from stunning natural landscapes can evoke a reverence for nature, witnessing love broadens our moral circle, expanding our feelings of care to include not only other people but also the world around us.

Studies on How to Cultivate Love

Self-Love

Susman, E. S., Chen, S., Kring, A. M., & Harvey, A. G. (2024). Daily micropractice can augment single-session interventions: A randomized controlled trial of self-compassionate touch and examining their associations with habit formation in US college students. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 175, 104498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2024.104498

Researchers assigned 135 college students to perform one of two 20-second practices every day for one month. One group practiced a “self-compassionate touch,” where they placed one hand on their heart and the other on their belly while thinking compassionately toward themselves; the other group simply tapped their finger for 20 seconds. Participants who practiced self-compassionate touch every day for a month experienced significantly greater increases in self-compassion, alongside reductions in stress and mental health symptoms, compared to daily finger-tapping. 

Nurturing Love in Kids
Sroufe, L. A. (2005). Attachment and development: A prospective, longitudinal study from birth to adulthood. Attachment & Human Development, 7(4), 349-367. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616730500365928

Raising children who are loving starts with how they experience their earliest relationships. A 30-year study showed that when caregivers provide a stable, supportive, and responsive environment, children grow up with the ability to form deep, loving connections with others. The key is cultivating secure attachment in infancy—this means consistently responding to a child’s needs in ways that make them feel safe, cared for, and understood. Children with secure attachment were found to be more empathetic, better at handling emotions, and more skilled at navigating friendships and relationships. In contrast, those with insecure or disrupted attachments often struggled with self-esteem and connection later in life. But here’s the hopeful part: the research also found that positive changes in a child’s environment—like increased support for caregivers or a nurturing social network—can help children build stronger emotional regulation, form healthier relationships, and improve social skills, even if their early years were difficult. It’s a powerful reminder that showing love, being present, and creating a secure emotional base can have lasting ripple effects on a child’s ability to love and connect as they grow.

Romantic Relationships

Algoe, S. B., Gable, S. L., & Maisel, N. C. (2010). It’s the Little Things: Everyday Gratitude as a Booster Shot for Romantic Relationships. Personal Relationships, 17(2), 217–233.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01273.x

Through daily check-ins with couples, the researchers found that small gestures, like bringing one’s partner their favorite coffee or planning a dinner, sparked both gratitude and feelings of indebtedness. When either partner experienced gratitude on one day, both partners consistently reported stronger feelings of connection and satisfaction in their relationship on the following day. Indebtedness, however, had a more complex effect: It kept partners engaged but didn’t spark the same kind of positive relational boost as gratitude. This nuanced look at gratitude shows that it’s not only the gesture but also the emotional response that matters. By focusing on gratitude rather than obligation when receiving thoughtful acts of kindness from partners, couples can foster a positive cycle of connection that can make love feel both enduring and fresh. This research underscores the power of appreciating the small things, making gratitude a core foundation for lasting love.

Between Groups

Welker, K. M., Slatcher, R. B., Baker, L., & Aron, A. (2014). Creating positive out-group attitudes through intergroup couple friendships and implications for compassionate love. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 31(5), 706–725. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407514522369

This study shows how fostering connections can reduce prejudice and foster compassionate love. Researchers paired Black and White couples, as well as individuals, for structured interactions aimed at building closeness. In some groups, all participants were of the same race (same-race condition), while in others, participants came from different racial backgrounds (cross-race condition). The participants engaged in activities designed to deepen connection and trust. First, they completed the "Fast Friends" exercise, where they asked and answered increasingly personal questions to facilitate open, authentic sharing such as “What’s your perfect day?” and “What’s one thing you’re grateful for?” Then, participants worked together on tasks designed to encourage teamwork and cooperation, like playing Jenga or drawing maps from memory. The findings were significant: cross-race pairings, especially among couples, led to more positive attitudes toward people from different racial groups. Participants felt warmer, more connected, and less anxious about interacting with those outside their racial group. These interactions cultivated love and empathy by focusing on shared experiences and common humanity, showing that structured, intentional efforts can break down barriers and expand our circles of care.

In the World

Fagan, J. G., Henley, K., Punnoose, S., & McGuire, A. P. (2023). Can exposure to specific acts of compassion and courage elicit moral elevation and related motives? Journal of Moral Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2023.2284098

Participants in this study watched videos depicting acts of either compassion or courage. They felt significantly higher levels of “moral elevation”— a warm, uplifting emotion that inspires a desire to be more virtuous and loving—after witnessing acts of compassion but not acts of courage. Interestingly, people who already valued compassion felt the deepest sense of elevation after watching the compassion video, suggesting that our values can amplify our response to virtuous acts that resonate with those values. Although both virtues—compassion and courage—inspired similar motivations to act lovingly, compassion triggered a deeper emotional response. This could make it especially powerful in encouraging kindness and generosity. These findings suggest that highlighting and celebrating acts of compassion might be uniquely effective in fostering a more loving society.

Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2005). Attachment security, compassion, and altruism. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 14(1), 34-38.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00330.x

The feeling of secure attachment—knowing you have a safe, reliable connection with others—can unlock a deep reservoir of compassion and altruism. People with secure attachment are more likely to respond empathetically to others' suffering, not just in thought but through genuine acts of help. This is because secure attachment calms self-focused anxieties, freeing people to extend care and kindness to those in need. In one study, participants were reminded of secure relationships by reading about supportive people or imagining such figures. This simple reminder led them to display greater compassion towards strangers, even those from out-groups. Through a series of experiments, the researchers found that secure attachment enhances openness and reduces prejudice, helping individuals break through biases and connect to others on a human level. This research suggests that by remembering secure connections, we could foster a more compassionate, altruistic society, where the strength of our bonds extends beyond personal ties to embrace humanity at large.