helping others has a wide variety of benefits: Being kind and helpful can make us happier, give us a sense of purpose and meaning, and even lower our blood pressure.

A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology finds that they even extend to people who are more antisocial—including individuals who have committed crimes.

Participants who spent the money on the charitable cause reported higher levels of positive emotions, compared to participants who spent the money on themselves.

the researchers found that the youth who helped someone else experienced higher levels of positive emotions.

People who have engaged in criminal activities may not find themselves in a social environment that affords them the opportunity to behave in prosocial ways (for example, Aknin suggests, their peer groups may not encourage it)

programs encouraging helping behavior could be a valuable part of prison rehabilitation programs. These programs could make people aware of the fact that helping others can boost happiness