Science says: we become kinder as we get older

Old people are just so incredibly sweet, gentle, and vulnerable, aren't they? I often have to deal with them. Especially at moments when they try to walk through the busy traffic in Amsterdam and are almost run over from all sides. My heart truly breaks at witnessing this. Young people, on the other hand, can be so unkind, hard, and antisocial.

A new study shows that most people become kinder as they get older. Well, that explains a lot. This has everything to do with the so-called cuddle hormone ‘oxytocin’, which apparently increases with age. Researcher Paul Zak explains: ‘Oxytocin is a neurochemical signal that promotes attachment to and bonding with others. However, how oxytocin changes with age has never been studied before, but it can have significant implications for our health and mood.’

More than 100 participants took part in this study, ranging in age from 18 to 99 years. Each participant was shown a video of a small child with cancer. Blood was taken before and after the video to measure the change in oxytocin. Zak: ‘Participants had the option to donate a portion of their earnings from the study to a charity for childhood cancer. We also collected data on their emotional state to gain more insight into their overall life satisfaction.’

What emerged from this? That people who produced the most oxytocin turned out to be more generous and helpful. This conclusion was drawn based on the donations; the older the participant, the higher the donated amount. Additionally, it was discovered that the release of oxytocin increases with age. And the most interesting finding according to Zak: ‘There is a positive correlation between the change in oxytocin and greater life satisfaction, gratitude, and empathetic feelings: traits that all increase as people get older.’ In other words: most people become softer and friendlier over the years.