Yesterday, I was working in the yard when a couple from Michigan pulled up in their car to ask me how to get somewhere. After about five minutes of explaining how to get there, the couple seemed so grateful, and I felt really, really good. Every time I help someone, even in simple ways like this, I get this very good feeling.
I got to thinking that, aren’t there studies that show that people are naturally wired to feel good helping each other? Something like that?
I was in Prague last month with my girlfriend. We spent most of our time just wandering aimlessly. At one point, we saw what looked exactly like a giant metronome swaying back and forth on the top of a hill on the other side of the river (the side where the castle is).
Does anyone know what this is? We went up to the top of the hill (which is an improvised skate park), and the metronome didn’t appear to be connected to anything but a wire. Therefore, it seemed that the electricity from the wire was what made it sway, not the wind or anything like that. I could think of how the metronome would be generating anything.
Does anyone have the slightest idea what I’m talking about?
I’m an idiot…
Not much to it; it’s a big metronome. It’s not generating anything, it’s just art.
Hey, now I feel good! It works! 
No, no you’re not. You’re fine. It’s an easy mistake to make. Plus, we really like you.
Hey that felt good! 
Look for studies on both altruism and positive psychology.
Isn’t it called “Helper’s syndrome”, and typically it’s a depressive-character type that has it? (I’m not referring to Depression the sickness, but to the 4 character types, derived from the four developmental stages - schizoid, depressive, hysteric, and the last I forgot - I learned about in some very, very basic psych. course).
Or you’re simply a nice guy, so you like to be nice.
Are you thinking of Neurotic Styles? Analytic psychology isn’t the only way to explain human behavior.
Shoshana -
*Are you thinking of Neurotic Styles? *
I thought the term was “Psychological types”, but that class was about 14 years ago, so I might misremember.
Analytic psychology isn’t the only way to explain human behavior.
That’s why I said that it was very, very basic. I’m certainly not a psychologist or psychiatrist or anything in that area; if you are, or have better knowledge, please share, so we can all learn.
It’s called “helper’s high”. It’s a feeling of euphoria experienced by people who help others.
(see: altruism, good samaritan)
http://www.wordspy.com/words/helpershigh.asp