One morning, researchers handed passers-by $5 or $20 to spend by 5 pm, either on themselves or on someone else. That evening, those who had bought a gift or donated reported feeling happier, regardless of the amount. Surveys in over 130 countries find a link between generosity and well-being, even where money is scarce.
Remembering is not replaying a recording — it is rebuilding. Each time you recall a memory, it becomes temporarily malleable and can be altered before being stored again. That is why two people can sincerely remember the same event… differently.
In 2003, Johnson and Goldstein compared European countries. Where you must tick a box to become a donor, consent rates ranged from 4% to 28%. Where you're a donor by default unless you opt out, they topped 85%. People aren't more generous on one side; most simply stick with whatever option was chosen for them.