A study published in the International Journal of Research in Marketing revealed interesting findings about perceived personal beauty and kindness. The study actually confirmed findings over a series of seven experiments. Specifically, this research suggests that people who feel good about their appearance channeled that good feeling into deeds of kindness toward others.

In one experiment, those who enhanced a selfie with the use of a filter gave a more generous donation, giving almost double what those who did not enhance a selfie gave.

In another experiment, those who answered a questionnaire designed to encourage them to imagine themselves at their most attractive moments (like dressed for a social event) were significantly more likely to give a donation than those who answered a questionnaire about architecture (7% of participants compared to 2% of participants, while the average click-through rate on Facebook links is only .9%). (Described in Neuroscience News.)

Overall, this study suggests that enhancing one’s appearance in reality or virtually or simply imagining oneself at their most attractive moments, increased prosocial behaviors like kindness and generosity. Isn’t that interesting? But what does that mean for our families? I believe we can make at least two applications for this information for our families.

• One, this study suggests that if a person remains mindful of their own appearance, doing their best to look their best, they will often treat others with greater kindness and generosity. Specific to our families, a person may treat their spouse and children with greater kindness. They will show more generosity in their interactions with their spouse and their children. They will also model greater kindness and generosity for their family to emulate. This will add several healthy deposits in the Family Bank of Honor.
• If a person teaches their children to have a healthy awareness of their appearance, their children will learn to take better care of themselves and their appearance; they will “dress for success.” Feeling good about their bodies and their appearances, they too will engage in more acts of kindness. Perhaps they will even prove more generous in the giving of themselves to family.

Overall, by modeling and teaching a healthy perspective about appearance we can enhance kindness and generosity within our families. Increasing kindness and generosity among family members will increase intimacy and security within our families. What children learn within our families will overflow into our communities. We will exhibit greater kindness and generosity in the community. And so it begins…a little awareness and conscious intention to look our best increasing kindness and generosity within our families which increases kindness and generosity within our communities. Sound too Utopian? Maybe…but kindness and generosity are worth the effort to find out.