believed to benefit others—society at large or those who are

befriended. The results of our experiments, however, join a growing

body of research suggesting positive consequences of prosociality

for oneself. Whether it is spending money on others versus

oneself (Dunn, Aknin, & Norton, 2008), behaving equitably rather

than selfishly (Condon & DeSteno, 2011), or expressing gratitude

versus disdain (Algoe, Gable, & Maisel, 2010), prosociality seems

not only to benefit others but also to benefit oneself. On an

increasingly crowded planet, misunderstanding the benefits of

social engagement could be increasingly problematic. At least in

this respect, the hedonist who seeks happiness and the idealist who

seeks civility should choose the same path.