Belief In Karma Guides Our Deeds. Yes, All Of Us.

Really, if there were no such thing as karma, would you be reading this? The correct answer is “maybe.” For those who are certain there is no such thing as karma, researchers at the University of Virginia have an interesting response: there is no such thing as not believing in karma. A U of Virginia news release reports on a series of experiments whose results suggest that when people are waiting for the results of something with an uncontrollable outcome, such as a medical test or job interview, they are more likely to do good deeds than people who are not hoping for good news. In one experiment, researchers asked 95 people to write about an important, unknown outcome they were currently awaiting, such as the results of a medical test or job interview. Other participants simply wrote about their daily routine. Later, participants were asked if they would volunteer to participate in additional work for the lab, and thereby earn money for a charity. Yes, those who reflected on important uncontrollable unknowns were more likely to volunteer their time to benefit charities. They were also more likely to make a monetary donation than participants who thought about a controllable unresolved personal dilemma or those who thought about a mundane personal preference. The researchers are persuaded that the people hoping for good news were investing in karma, stocking up on good deeds with the conviction that what goes around comes around. Read more from the University of Virginia.