In an experiment, subjects were given a test. After the test, the subjects were given two different results. This report had nothing to do with their actual grades. Group A was told, “Your score was good.” Group B was told, “Your score was bad.” After the results were announced, the subjects were left in the room and a donation box was placed in the room. The people who were told that their test scores were good were more likely to donate. It seems that if you are treated well, you will tend to help others. If people are treated well, they will try to treat those around them with care. Humans, like many other animals, live in groups. If they feel good, the whole group will take action to survive.
A research team from Keio University and other institutions conducted animal experiments on the happiness hormone (oxytocin) using mice. Sibling mice born to the same mother were kept alone or in groups of 4-5 and observed for 12 weeks. The mice kept alone secreted less oxytocin than those kept in groups. This experiment revealed that social loneliness reduced the “happiness hormone” secreted from the hypothalamus in the brain. In a sense, the group of mice that had contact with their peers lived in a happier environment.
The two elements that move people’s hearts and make them feel “interesting” or comfortable are “difference” and “empathy.” It is important that difference and empathy function as two wheels, not one alone. Part of comfort is enjoying the stimulation and change that betrays your expectations. In a sense, if you can freely manipulate “difference” and “empathy,” you can immerse yourself in a happy environment. This relationship is a trade-off with homogeneity. All new things in the world are born from combinations. The more homogeneity and trade-off (drawer) relationships there are, the more combinations there are. If you have many drawers, you can find new and unexpected combinations. Living a life that you face inconveniences every day gives you the creativity to solve problems. You can solve problems by coming up with ideas, and experience fun in solving them. Creativity can be raised to a higher level through daily collection of materials, resonance of information, combination, discovery of ideas, etc. If you can do this as a team, everyone will be happy.
