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The Best Way To Help Those In Need

People who receive help prefer it to be agentic — they want to choose. When aid is paternalistic, recipients are more likely to resent the help, less likely to accept it, and less likely to reciprocate. Yet people who give help prefer it to be paternalistic.”

There are two ways to help those in need and unfortunately the type most people prefer to give doesn’t match the type most people in need prefer to receive.

Behavioral Scientist explains this paradox of helping and that’s it rooted in the fact that most people believe they have greater mental fortitude, are more rational, and more sophisticated than the average person (but they’re not).

To truly help those in need, the article suggests recognizing the help they need is more like the help you would want in their situation.