News

Newsletter: February 2024 

Take a look at the most recent news letter from the Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness (ROK) to keep up to date with news and upcoming events. This includes information on upcoming talks, on and off campus events related to kindness and news from friends/partners/members.

February 2024 Newsletter

PGCert Graduates, Jan-2024

January 25th 2024

Congratulations to the latest cohort of graduates from the Psychology of Kindness and Wellbeing at Work PG Certificate course.

A faculty member in academic robes, plus several students in a room with bunting, to celebrate graduation

Annual Report 2022-2023


The first annual report for the Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness is now available. This includes information on continuing projects, completed projects, as well as a recap of last year's events and member accomplishments.

Read the Annual Report 2022-23

PGCert Graduates, Jul-2023

July 12st 2023

Congratulations to the first cohort of graduates from the Psychology of Kindness and Wellbeing at Work PG Certificate course.

Two faculty in academic robes, plus several students in a room with bunting, to celebrate graduation

Nervous about talking to strangers? It’s not as hard as you think, and you’re probably already better at it than you know!

School of Psychology Blog post - June 13th 2023

By Dr Gillian Sandstrom

To mark Loneliness Awareness Week, Sussex Psychologist Gillian Sandstrom shares her research findings on the importance of connecting with strangers for our happiness and well-being.

 

I talk to strangers.  Even on the Tube.  I have had loads of pleasant chats and, of course, a few awkward ones.  I’ve benefitted from some of these conversations, learning new things and getting helpful advice and recommendations.  Even when the conversations are just average, they add up, and make me feel more trust and less fear towards others.  Research shows that talking to strangers can improve our mood and make us feel more connected.  So why don’t we talk to each other more often?  Maybe we’re not convinced that we know how to do it.  The good news is that it’s not as hard as you think, and you’re probably already better at it than you know!

Read the full blog post

The University of Sussex launches UK’s first centre on the study of kindness

Broadcast: News items - Friday, 24 March 2023

By Poppy Luckett

The University of Sussex has, on Thursday 23 March, publicly launched the first academic research centre in the UK dedicated to the study of kindness. 

The Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness brings together researchers from across the University with expertise in psychology, business, education, social work, medical practice and media to investigate the impact of kindness on people and communities.

Read the full article

"In hard times, a kindness culture isn't a nice-to-have - it's essential."

Broadcast: News items - Friday, 11 November 2022

By Vicky Trendall Lane

Ahead of World Kindness Day (Sunday 13 November), leading kindness experts from the University of Sussex’s Centre for Research on Kindness are calling for a culture of kindness to be a top national priority. As the cost-of-living crisis, spiralling inflation and warnings of Covid and flu surges all set the scene for a tough winter, the Sussex academics are challenging leaders to show kindness and compassion.

Read the full article

Two thirds of people who took part in The Kindness Test think the pandemic has made people kinder

Broadcast: News items - Wednesday, 9 March 2022

By Alice Ingall

Two thirds of people who chose to take part in The Kindness Test, the world’s largest public study of kindness, believe the Covid-19 pandemic has made people more kind. Devised and analysed by University of Sussex psychologists, the results from the online questionnaire are being broadcast on BBC Radio 4, who partnered on the study, at 9am this Wednesday 9 March.

Read the full article

The Kindness Test: Sussex partners with BBC Radio 4 to explore the nation's attitudes to kindness

Broadcast: News items - Tuesday, 31 August 2021

By Alice Ingall

University of Sussex academics are partnering with BBC Radio 4 on The Kindness Test, a huge public science project aimed at increasing our understanding of the role that kindness plays in our lives.

Kindness is an area of research which is rapidly expanding, with neuroscientists examining its impact on the brain, psychologists researching what prompts us to behave kindly - and what can prevent us from being kind - and political scientists studying its application to politics.

Read the full article

Annual Kindness Symposium at Sussex 2018

School of Psychology Blog post - December 3rd 2018

By Jessica Cotney

A few weeks ago, the University of Sussex hosted the third annual Sussex Kindness Symposium in order to celebrate World Kindness Day. The event was organised by Prof. Robin Banerjee from the School of Psychology, funded by Kindness UK as part of the Kindness UK Doctoral Conference Award, and featured kindness-related work from across the university and beyond.

Read the full blog post

Exploring Kindness as a JRA

School of Psychology Blog post - November 12th 2018

By Alessia Goglio

Being a Psychology undergraduate here at Sussex enabled me to explore different domains of interest in this fascinating subject and to develop my passion for “Positive Psychology”, the field that studies what is good in life.  Among the topic explored in this field, there is kindness: a construct that had been shown to not only improve life satisfaction and well-being but also friendships and relationships.

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The warm glow of kindness is real – Sussex study confirms

Broadcast: News items - Thursday, 27 September 2018

By Anna Ford

  • The ‘warm glow’ of kindness is real – even when there’s nothing in it for you
  • We feel the benefit of kind acts regardless of whether they are altruistic or strategically motivated
  • This raises questions for charities and governments about whether to encourage good behaviour by appealing to our warm glow or by the promise of a return on investment.

Psychologists at the University of Sussex have confirmed that the warm glow of kindness is real, even when there’s nothing in it for you. In their study, published in NeuroImage, they undertook a major analysis of existing research showing the brain scans relating to over 1000 people making kind decisions.

Read the full article