On Monday night, author, broadcaster, and psychologist Claudia Hammond gave the Humanists UK Rosalind Franklin Lecture 2024, titled ‘Keys to Kindness: How to be Kinder to Yourself, Others, and The World.’ Claudia’s lecture delved into the intricate relationship between kindness and the human experience.
Chaired by journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed, the lecture took place at Conway Hall in London and online, drawing a total audience of over 1,000. It was organised in celebration of International Women’s Day, and is named in memory of the humanist X-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin.
During the lecture, Claudia outlined ‘seven keys to kindness’, offering a profound blueprint for cultivating kindness in personal and communal spheres. These keys emphasised the abundance of kindness in the world, the mutual benefits of kind acts – and the importance of empathy, and the positive potential for anyone to make a significant impact through kindness.
Think for yourself, act for everyone
In a fascinating presentation, Claudia illuminated the evolutionary foundations of human behaviour, drawing upon extensive research conducted by the University of Sussex. She cited the globally renowned survey, popularly known as the ‘Kindness Test’, which gathered insights from over 60,000 participants spanning 144 countries. Claudia emphasised the profound interconnectedness between kindness and cooperation, underscoring their potential role in human evolution.
This interconnectedness likely explains why we find acts of kindness intrinsically rewarding. Moreover, Claudia observed that acts of kindness can be witnessed even in children as young as 18 months old, showcasing the innate tendency of humans to exhibit prosocial behaviour from a tender age.
‘Kindness is our strength‘
Reflecting on her personal journey and the insights gained from her work, Claudia shared how actively noticing and recording acts of kindness has enriched her perspective on the world and motivated her to extend kindness to strangers. This practice has helped her maintain a positive outlook amidst the reality that the world and human behaviour can often be negative, unkind, or violent.
Following an expansive Q&A session, Samira Ahmed awarded Claudia the prestigious Rosalind Franklin Lecture medal for ‘her work to promote, and better understand the nature of kindness – kindness to others, and also to ourselves; And for working to help people reflect, for themselves, on what they can do to bring about a more tolerant society, where rational thinking and kindness prevail.’
Humanists UK Andrew Copson Chief Executive said:
‘Claudia has significantly deepened our appreciation for the fabric of human kindness and cooperation. While society so often emphasises the human capacity for doing wrong, Claudia’s work illuminates the profound significance of compassion and kindness in not only our evolution – but our daily lives. By exploring these themes, Claudia captures the heart of our shared, enduring humanist principles.’
Notes
About Claudia Hammond
Claudia Hammond is an award-winning broadcaster, author, and psychology lecturer. In her work she shares the ways that psychological and medical research can help us in our everyday lives, whether through radio, TV, podcasts, public events, or books.
Claudia is the presenter of several podcasts and radio shows including All in the Mind on BBC Radio 4 which covers psychology, neuroscience, and mental health, and the weekly global health show Health Check on BBC World Service. She is Visiting Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Sussex. Claudia gives talks on psychology around the world and often chairs public events on psychology, medicine, and science. She writes a regular column on medical myths for BBC Future.
Her latest book, The Keys to Kindness, covers the results of the world’s largest public science project on the subject of kindness, and is published by Canongate. She is also the author of The Art of Rest, Mind Over Money, Time Warped, and Emotional Rollercoaster.
About Samira Ahmed
Samira Ahmed is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster who presents Front Row on Radio 4 and Newswatch on BBC One, and was named Audio Broadcaster of the Year at the 2020 British Broadcasting Press Guild Awards. In April 2023, she made headlines around the world after revealing the existence of the earliest complete concert recording of The Beatles in the UK – made at Stowe boarding school in 1963. She won Stonewall Broadcast of the Year in 2009 while a presenter at Channel 4 News. Her documentaries include Art of Persia on BBC Four (2020) and Disgusted, Mary Whitehouse (2022). She writes a regular column in New Humanist.
About the Rosalind Franklin Lecture series
Marking International Women’s Day, the Rosalind Franklin Lecture explores and celebrates the contribution of women towards the promotion and advancement of aspects of humanism in the UK and around the world. The Rosalind Franklin medallist has made a significant contribution in one of these fields. The lecture and medal are named after Rosalind Franklin, humanist and scientist, whose contribution to science for many years went unacknowledged on account of her sex but who is today rightly celebrated.
For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Kathy Riddick at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 3675 0959.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 120,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.