Interesting perspective! I have definitely noticed how mood-lifting it can be to help others, especially if it is something I can do easily (such as translating a phrase to a coworker from a language they don’t speak).
I also notice I am somewhat wary of using helping close ones as a form of emotional regulation because I’ve seen a fair share of co-dependency issues of different levels. Mostly in the form where someone gets closer to a person who is not doing that well, tries to take care of them and ends up in a space where their own mood is largely dictated by how the loved one feels. I’m wondering if that also has some roots in evolutionary psychology or if it is just “overdoing” the method you suggested.
Interesting perspective! I have definitely noticed how mood-lifting it can be to help others, especially if it is something I can do easily (such as translating a phrase to a coworker from a language they don’t speak).
I also notice I am somewhat wary of using helping close ones as a form of emotional regulation because I’ve seen a fair share of co-dependency issues of different levels. Mostly in the form where someone gets closer to a person who is not doing that well, tries to take care of them and ends up in a space where their own mood is largely dictated by how the loved one feels. I’m wondering if that also has some roots in evolutionary psychology or if it is just “overdoing” the method you suggested.