The science behind giving

This is the season of giving. We give gifts to family and friends. We treat employees to a get-together lunch or dinner. We donate raffle prizes to our suppliers' year-end parties. We give food, money or material things to everyone we can think of and those who approach us.

Sometimes we are deliberate with what we give but most of the time we randomly give money or food to make the thought process simpler, because it is the act of giving that makes us feel good. These good feelings are reflected in our biology.