The Joy of Giving

Why altruism and generosity make us healthier and happier-and how we can all give more.

Stephen G. Post, Ph.D., is Director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics. He is the co-author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People. See full bio

September 3, 2008, Happiness

Comments on "Updating the Helper Therapy Principle"

Updating the Helper Therapy Principle

By Stephen G. Post, Ph.D. on September 3, 2008 in The Joy of Giving

The therapeutic benefits of helping others have long been recognized by everyday people. This concept was first formalized in a highly cited and often reprinted article by Frank Riessman that appeared in 1965 in Social Work. Read More

Great quotes

Submitted by Cindy Taren on September 3, 2008 - 8:05am.

Beautiful article!! This is so true and so forgotten in today's "me first" society.

Thanks you Cindy. This is

Submitted by Stephen G. Post, Ph.D. on September 4, 2008 - 10:54am.

Thanks you Cindy. This is all kitchen table wisdom, but a little science helps to substantiate the obvious. Stephen

YES!

Submitted by Marie on September 3, 2008 - 2:22pm.

Wonderful article. I agree that there is so much good out there! I do see women often times paralizing themselves by failing to empower their choices . I firmly believe that only though reinventing one's self, and healing through transitional times can the service oriented, giving spirit you describe, be achieved!