Is Happiness Selfish?
May 24, 2012Will focusing on other people's happiness ultimately make us happier than if we focus on our own needs?
Fall/Winter 2006-07 (Volume III, Issue 2)
The Bystander’s Dilemma
This issue takes a provocative look at “the psychology of the bystander”: What is it that induces some people to come to the aid of others in distress, while other people do nothing? Scientists have considered this question for years. Now Greater Good examines the fruits of their research and applies it to contemporary ethical issues concerning education, war, journalism, and more.
Buy this back issue
In Brief
Q&A
Bystanders to Genocide (05)
By Jason Marsh | Fall/Winter 2006-07An Interview with Philip Gourevitch
Features
We Are All Bystanders (06)
By Dacher Keltner, Jason Marsh | Fall/Winter 2006-07But we don’t have to be. Dacher Keltner and Jason Marsh explain why we sometimes shackle our moral instincts, and how we can set them free.
Courage Under Fire (08)
By Svetlana Broz | Fall/Winter 2006-07When the Bosnian civil war broke out, Svetlana Broz searched for the humanity behind the horrific headlines. She found stories of people who risked their lives to help victims of the war—and who inspired others to follow their example.
Playground Heroes (10)
By Ken Rigby, Bruce Johnson | Fall/Winter 2006-07Who can stop bullying? Not just parents and teachers, argue Ken Rigby and Bruce Johnson.
Why Do We Walk On By? (12)
By Marc Barasch | Fall/Winter 2006-07To find empathy for the homeless, Marc Ian Barasch put himself in their shoes for a week.
The Rules of Engagement (13)
By Roger Simpson | Fall/Winter 2006-07Journalists are bystanders to the world around them, often witnessing people in great distress. When should they put down their cameras and notebooks and help their subjects? Roger Simpson explains when journalists should get involved —and when they shouldn’t.
The Eye of the Storm (15)
By Jason Marsh | Fall/Winter 2006-07In Hurricane Katrina, photojournalist Ted Jackson did more than take pictures.
The Banality of Heroism (16)
By Zeno Franco, Philip Zimbardo | Fall/Winter 2006-07Circumstances can force almost anyone to be a bystander to evil, but they can also bring out our own inner hero. Zeno Franco and Philip Zimbardo show how we’re all capable of everyday heroism.
Finding Meaning in Medicine (18)
By Karin Evans | Fall/Winter 2006-07Physician burnout, rushed and impersonal care for patients—this is what's ailing the medical profession today. Some doctors have a prescription for change.
Each One, Help One (20)
By Elizabeth O’Brien | Fall/Winter 2006-07As working families find it ever harder to pay their bills, a nonprofit organization connects small donors to people with modest needs.
Book Reviews
Book Review: Stumbling on Happiness (21)
By Laura Saslow | Fall/Winter 2006-07By Daniel Gilbert
Knopf, 2006, 277 pages
The Anatomy of Peace (22)
By Jill Suttie | Fall/Winter 2006-07By The Arbinger Institute
Berrett-Koehler, 2006, 231 pages
Book Review: Critical Lessons (23)
By Matthew Wheeland | Fall/Winter 2006-07By Nel Noddings
Cambridge University Press, 2006, 319 pages
Book Review: What Children Need (24)
By Christine Carter | Fall/Winter 2006-07By Jane Waldfogel
Harvard University Press, 2006, 269 pages
Ideas for the Greater Good
Most...
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Four Ways Happiness Can Hurt You
May 3, 2012Can feeling good ever be bad? New research says yes—and points the way to a healthier, more balanced life.
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How to Foster Group Creativity
April 11, 2012In the second of a two-part conversation, Imagine author Jonah Lehrer explains how science can help teams become more creative.
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You’re Never Too Old to Build Emotional Intelligence
April 24, 2012A recent study suggests we can learn to regulate and manage our emotions even after we’re reached adulthood.
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Four Ways Happiness Can Hurt You
May 3, 2012Can feeling good ever be bad? New research says yes—and points the way to a healthier, more balanced life.
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Five Lessons in Human Goodness from “The Hunger Games”
April 18, 2012The plot of the new film sounds cynical. But it reveals a surprising amount about the science of human goodness.
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Lessons in Creativity from Caine’s Arcade
May 1, 2012The latest viral video sensation is more than a portrait of a cute and creative kid. It's a guide to how we can nurture kids' imagination.
Greater Good Live
When is Stress Good for You?
Combining wit with deep knowledge, Robert Sapolsky explains the optimal amount of stress.
WatchThe Greater Good Guide to Mindfulness
This invaluable resource, a special benefit for GGSC members, offers insight into what mindfulness is, why it’s important, and how to teach it.
Get the GuidePathways to Gratefulness
The Palace of Fine Arts, San FranciscoJune 23rd 2012, 10am-5pm
Network for Grateful Living presents a summit geared at awakening the practice of gratefulness and grateful living in all of us.
Greater Good Sections
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- Pop Culture Review
- Ideas for the Greater Good
- Noted
- Research Reviews
- Research Digests
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