I predicted my question "why do we do good deeds when we gain nothing from it" would elicit a response along the lines of "because it makes us feel good to give and not gain". Most of you fall into that category and don't seem to realise that the "feeling good" is a reward or gain in itself and so therefore it isn't truly a selfless act you do!
2006-06-14 20:06:32 · 9 answers · asked by stormsurfer_is_me 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Good point! I guess it's just been drilled into us to do it.
I suppose the only truly good deed/selfless act is something done for someone else that will actually cause detriment to yourself.
2006-06-14 20:12:14 · answer #1 · answered by squimberley 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Feeling good in a sense is a gain from good deeds but really if we can not help one another who would.
Personally I don't give just because of what I would gain but rather because I see a need and feel morally bound to help. If I feel good after then hey why not! I like to think when I help someone that when my turn comes for help someone would be there for me. Call it a "pay forward" {from the movie of the same name}scheme.
2006-06-15 07:23:01 · answer #2 · answered by Storm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All these good people, doesn't it warm your soul. Strange then that there is never a kind word to be spoken in the streets, never a forgiving nature amongst strangers. We have been programed to be hostile and will remain so for many generations to come. Nice, good, nothing but propaganda. This is a principal that died out years ago
2006-06-15 19:23:27 · answer #3 · answered by mika 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe, but whats wrong with feeling good when others feel good? If we made someone happy but felt miserable then we wouldn't do it, so evolution would have failled. Like if food or sex made us miserable than we'd starve or never reproduce and humankind will be over with. And people are meant to be in groups so we have to cooperate, and if we didn't we'd have been wiped out years ago.
2006-06-15 06:06:13 · answer #4 · answered by floppity 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We all have different gifts & talents to be shared
some people need help and when you can do it,their live is easier...most importnatly..it gets the task down PERIOD !!
I don't help to feel better about myself..I mostly help because it is needed..there are times I helped and wished I hadn't done it..as it has caused me problems or made things worse....so as for helping making you feel better..that is not always the case.
2006-06-15 04:54:18 · answer #5 · answered by justnanous 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not many people will take 'feeling good' as a valuable gain.
It needs being special to 'feel good' when practising generosity.
Therefore it is a rare attribute to be generous and well worth it.
2006-06-15 03:16:58 · answer #6 · answered by Aku 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Didn't see your previous question but will answer this one.
Sometimes you feel good immediately AFTER a good deed.
Many times,you feel good in retrospect.
Most times,it's not about feelings at all -you just do them because they are RIGHT.
2006-06-15 03:31:57 · answer #7 · answered by Emma Woodhouse 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ding ding baa baa my old mans a mushroom, stop playing with our heads man lol excellent point
2006-06-15 05:16:32 · answer #8 · answered by harrierzero1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is a good point
2006-06-15 03:12:14 · answer #9 · answered by mumoftheyear 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋