Social experiment reveals Londoners' reaction to random acts of kindness

This video shows what happened when Londoners were given roses and asked to pass them on to strangers, all in the name of kindness.

The social experiment was orchestrated by online florist Interflora, and saw staff-members with buckets of flowers handing out a single rose to passers-by and asking them simply to pay that random act of kindness forward to another Londoner.

One unnamed recipient says in the video, “I kind of felt a bit empowered by it.

“I mean, it was terrifying don’t get me wrong.”

Another person said it “made my day”.

Psychologists maintain that acts of kindness produce endorphins, helping to promote a ripple effect of kindness, and that altruism is good for the individual and good for society.

Dr George Fieldman, a psychologist specialising in altruism said, “A random act of kindness is doing something spontaneous and generous to someone without expecting anything back in return.

“Science shows us that people who act altruistically tend to be happier, healthier and, in fact, to live longer themselves.

“Societies that embrace altruism foster cultures in which people become integrated, co-operative and empowered, which is of benefit to us all.”