On this episode of Listen In, social studies teacher Krista Silvernail sat down with Opinions Editor Samantha Haney to discuss the positive psychological impacts of compliments for National Compliment Day, which is on March 1.

Silvernail teaches AP Psychology and covers types of relationships between different people.

“Psychology focuses a lot on how important it is that people feel a sense of belonging and that people want to connect with others,” Silvernail said.

Giving a compliment benefits both the compliment giver and the compliment receiver by creating a relationship that makes both people feel good. A study by Psychology Today in 2021 suggested that more people should start giving compliments more frequently because of the psychological benefits.

“Especially if a person is intuitive and is paying close attention to the expressions of the person that they’re giving the compliment to,” Silvernail said. “We never know what’s going on in somebody’s day but to see somebody light up because you told them ‘I love your hair’ could make a big impact on [their] day.”

Not only does she know this based on personal experience but Silvernail teaches a theory in her class that backs it up.

“Giving compliments would be a theory that’s called the ‘Feel Good When We Do Good’ theory,” she said. “Just like the theory states, a lot of times when we do a small act of kindness and see the way they respond, that makes us feel good for a significant time.”

To celebrate National Compliment Day, Silvernail recommends giving a compliment as a simple act of kindness to help make a better day for someone else. Her personal goal is to get better at both receiving and giving compliments because of the impact on others.

“It makes them feel loved and wanted and part of a bigger group,” Silvernail said.

This story was originally published on The Lancer Feed on March 1, 2024.