Here's some wonderful news that might surprise you: despite what you see on social media or hear in casual conversation, research shows that people around the world are fundamentally good, and society isn't actually in decline.

Dr. Paul Hanel, a psychology expert, has spent years investigating how accurately we perceive each other's values and behaviors. His findings paint a remarkably hopeful picture of humanity that stands in stark contrast to common perceptions.

In a comprehensive 2022 study involving 32,000 people across 49 cultural groups, researchers discovered something beautiful: the values that ranked highest were loyalty, honesty, and helpfulness, while power and wealth consistently ranked at the bottom. This pattern held steady across more than 30 European countries between 2002 and 2023, according to data from the European Social Survey.

Even more encouraging is how consistent these positive values are across different groups. Whether looking at 2,500 Democrats and Republicans in the US, or Leave and Remain voters from the Brexit referendum, people's core values are remarkably similar. This suggests that the narrative of deep division may be overstated, and we have far more in common than we think.

But what about actual behavior? The evidence is equally uplifting. When researchers analyzed public conflicts captured on CCTV cameras, they found that bystanders intervened in nine out of ten cases where conflict occurred. These findings were consistent across the Netherlands, South Africa, and the UK, showing that helping others transcends cultural boundaries.

In a charming 2019 experiment conducted across 40 countries, researchers discovered that lost wallets were more likely to be returned when they contained money rather than when empty. The more cash inside, the higher the return rate. Why? Because people recognized that losing more money would cause greater harm to the wallet's owner. This simple act demonstrates widespread human empathy in action.

The Bright Side

Perhaps most striking is a 2023 experiment where 200 people from seven countries received $10,000 with almost no strings attached. Rather than keeping it all for themselves, participants spent over $4,700 on other people and donated $1,700 to charity. When given the freedom to choose, people chose generosity.

So why does pessimism persist? Dr. Hanel explains that news outlets naturally focus on negative events, and these stories spread faster on social media. Additionally, people with extreme political views post more frequently online, creating a distorted picture of public sentiment that doesn't reflect how most people actually think and behave.

Understanding this gap between perception and reality matters enormously. Research shows that people who wrongly believe others are selfish become less likely to volunteer or vote. When we recognize that most people share our compassionate values, we're more motivated to engage positively with our communities.

The evidence is clear and compelling: across cultures, education levels, and political affiliations, people consistently value kindness, cooperation, and helping others. Americans have even become slightly more cooperative with strangers between the 1950s and 2010s.

This research offers a powerful reminder that humanity's better angels are alive and well. While challenges certainly exist, the data shows we're surrounded by people who care about doing the right thing. That's genuinely something to celebrate.