- You know what I love about science?
It just keeps on giving.
The more you tinker and examine and explore,
the more you learn and the more questions you have.
Here, on this show, we've covered a lot.
We've talked about happiness, love, and empathy
and yet, I still somehow, don't know everything.
One thing I did notice, however, was the common thread
that links all these themes together.
Happiness, love and empathy all affect
and are affected by generosity.
So you asked for it and I am happy to give.
This is the science of generosity.
If you're a fan of evolution, then you may wonder
why homo sapiens are generous at all.
It's a tough world out there, survival of the fittest.
Why would you give away something that you could use
for your own benefit?
It's madness!
One explanation is it's actually an advantage,
not a weakness, for the human race to be generous.
Being selfless towards your family or other members
of your species may mean you all have a better chance
of survival and passing on your generous qualities.
I mean that in as many flattering ways as possible.
It's likely why we see generosity in other species too,
like when bonobo apes share their food with strangers
or when vampire bats regurgitate blood
into each other's mouths to make sure
everyone gets a good meal.
Isn't that sweet?
For humans though, being generous isn't just a boon
to the people around you.
It also has been linked to long-term benefits
like lower mortality and better mental health.
So, if being generous is an advantage for you
and your whole species, then it stands to reason
it's equality we're programmed to find
appealing in a mate.
Apparently, having a habit of being generous
can make you happier, healthier,
and more attractive at parties.
Today, we're going to see if these science guys
are onto something.
Pre-recorded from Los Angeles, it's The Rating Game!
We selected a group of eight straight female participants
and told them we were studying how women
formed impressions of men.
Guy number one is 24 years of age and hails
from the Bronx.
Guy number one is Greg.
Guy number two is also 24 years old
and also calls the Bronx home.
Guy number two is Jeff.
Here's the thing though.
Our two male participants are actually identical twins.
They're also actors and they're not so much
being interviewed as reading off
two different scripts I wrote.
So, the rules are very simple.
In a moment, we'll have two gentlemen take the seats
on the opposite side of this partition
and you're gonna ask them questions from these cards.
Once they're done giving all their answers,
you're gonna rate each of them on attractiveness
on a scale of one to 10.
Sound good?
- Sounds great.
- Okay gentlemen, come on out.
No peeking, no peeking.
- No peeking.
- Guy number two was given an opportunity
to express his generous side.
Guy number one's script would be as neutral as possible.
Okay Margo, take it away.
- Alright gentlemen, what do you like to do for Halloween?
- Guy number one.
- Oh, I love getting dressed up
and going out with my friends for Halloween.
- [Woman] Guy number two?
- So, I actually stay home during Halloween.
There's a lot of kids in my neighborhood
and I can't let them down.
- Awe, that's so sweet! Nice!
- So, I can't watch the new episode of
Game of Thrones when it airs.
Do you wait for me?
- [Woman] Guy number one.
- I mean, that's a tough question.
How long are we talking?
Is this a day, a week, a year?
- [Woman] Guy number two.
- You know, I mean, if it's just a week,
yeah sure, why not?
- Awe!
- What do we do if we live across town?
- I'd be cool with it
as long as you drive to my place as much as I come to yours.
- Alright, guy number two?
- Ya know, I don't think that'd actually be
a problem for me.
Sacrifice is definitely important when it comes
to relationships.
So, I think I would gladly give my personal time
to come see you.
- That's a good answer.
- I think so too.
- If you got your big break,
what's the first thing you'd do?
- I think the very first thing I would do is
give my folks a long vacation.
They have a small business and never take real breaks.
They've done so much for me.
I think it'd be awesome if I could be the one
to give it to them.
- Awe, that's sweet.
- I like that answer.
- After our female participant finished with her questions,
I asked her to rate our men's attractiveness
on a scale of one to 10,
one being not at all and 10 being hubba hubba.
How physically attractive would you rate guy number one?
- A seven.
- A six.
- And guy number two, scale of one to 10,
how physically attractive do you feel he is?
- Guy number two is an 8.5.
- Higher rating for guy number two.
- He had some good answers, really good answers.
- So, the answers for guy number two
made a difference for you.
- Yeah, for sure.
- Guy number two, I'd give you a nine.
- A 10.
- After eight rounds of the rating game, the results are in.
Guy number one, Greg, scored an average attractiveness
rating of 7.2.
Not bad.
A solid C minus for generic Greg.
But for guy number two who expressed a more giving nature,
women rated him as an 8.6 on average.
Not only was he rated higher, but excluding one tie,
six out of seven women said they would prefer
to date guy number two.
Way to go, generous Jeff.
Alright, let's meet our two gentlemen
starting with the man you turned down.
This is guy number one. - How we doing? I'm Greg.
- Alyssa.
- [Host] Guy number two, let's see Jeff.
- [Jeff] Hey, how's it goin'?
- Are you guys twins?
- Nice to meet you. - We are.
- Oh my God.
- So, why did you score them the way you did?
- Well, the Game of Thrones, for one.
- That's huge, right? - Sorry, yeah.
- Just little nuances here and there though,
was like, "Oh, that's so sweet."
- Just like, "Oh my God, I love him."
He is my soulmate.
I really connected with your answers.
- I just wanna make it clear,
they were reading off a script and I wrote those answers.
- So you're really attracted to him.
- You're welcome, I'm a perfect 10.
- Oh my God.
- I think when someone is more generous,
they are definitely more physically attractive.
Being supported emotionally holds more weight
than being supported physically.
- I think the world needs more generosity right now.
Even in passing, just smile instead of scowling.
I think it would go really far these days.
- Apparently, it makes you more attractive too.
The lesson?
Generosity is sexy.
Maybe nice guys don't finish last after all.
♪ Soul Pancake ♪