Will Watching Oprah Make You a Better, Possibly Greener Person?

There are few things I miss as much about owning a T.V. than my 4pm Oprah fix. It was an ever-needed escape from my busy day's routine to scope out impressive stories from heroic "everyday" citizens, juicy interviews with celebrity guests and inspiring tid-bits from authors, life coaches and green gurus (like Michael Pollan!). No matter what my mood was before I tuned in--sad, bored, moody--I often walked away refreshed and uplifted. Ready to make a change for the better.

The Oprah Winfrey Show Ignites Do-Good Deeds

As it turns out, I'm not the only one. A recent study suggests that people who watch inspirational clips of others performing virtuous acts on the Oprah Winfrey Show are more likely to take action in altruistic deeds--such as helping others--themselves.

Simone Schnall from the University of Cambridge in England performed two experiments. In the first she asked 30 college students to watch a "warm and fuzzy" clip from Oprah. She then had 30 other students watch a neutral, nature documentary video clip. After getting paid for their participation, each group was asked if they'd like to participate in another unpaid study. 69 percent of those who watched the Oprah clip signed up, in comparison to 40 percent of those who watched the nature documentary.

A second, separate experiment revealed that the study subjects who viewed the Oprah segment (as compared to others who watched neutral nature docs and clips from a British comedy show), were much more likely to lend a helping hand. The leader of the study pretended she couldn't open an important computer file needed for the study subject to complete the test. Those who watched Oprah spent twice as long helping out the experimenter.

Oprah or Not, Be Better, Greener Through Others' Examples

The study of course should be taken with a grain of salt. As the MSN article reminds us, there's a huge difference between being inspired to do something--and actually doing it.

What I do think the study captures quite well however, is something that might be integral to our human nature--seeing others do good is inherently inspiring and could be the catalyst for us do good too.

This is one of the reasons why I adore producing and reading Planet Green's Change Makers column. It generates ideas and gets the green wheels turning. If others can do environmentally aware and awesome things, why can't we?

::msnbc

More Do-Good Inspiration:
Change Makers
Donate a Single Dollar to Do Some Really Affordable Good
What Would Buddha Do? Brooklyn Yogins Create a Community Donation Drive for Haiti