A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study on the Effectiveness of the “Three Good Things for Others” Intervention

Frontiers in Psychology

Michał Kȩdra¹  Zofia Mazur-Socha¹  Mariola Laguna² 

[1] Institute of Psychology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland;null;

关键词: prosocial behavior;    affect;    positive orientation;    intervention;    positive psychology;    childhood memories;    randomized controlled trial;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2021.661336

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The aim of our study was to test the effectiveness of the “three good things for others” intervention. We used the randomized controlled trial method, with four measurements (pretest, posttest, follow-up after 2 weeks, follow-up after 4 weeks) and with random assignment of participants to experimental and placebo control groups. We investigated the effects of the intervention on prosocial behavior, and in addition on positive and negative affect, and positive orientation (a general tendency to approach reality in a positive way). The results showed an increase in positive affect and a decrease in negative affect in the experimental group a day after the intervention. These effects, however, did not endure over the next 2 or 4 weeks. We also observed a statistically significant increase in prosocial behavior in the placebo control group, in which participants were engaged in a task of recalling childhood memories. The results are discussed and recommendations for future studies are proposed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY