Why do people become so nice during natural disasters? (wrote this during JAIMS program, April 1st, 2019)

When I visit public places, I notice something common: people come together to share experiences—shopping, walking, dining, enjoying a café. It made me think that connection brings happiness. But is that true? Nowadays, people stay connected through technology—Facebook, Twitter, social media. Does this mean they’re happier? Have we lost our human connections? Not exactly. We often see people coming together to help each other during tough times. This raises a complex question: why do people become so compassionate during crises?

Take, for example, the 9/11 attacks. In a country as individualistic as the United States, people banded together, supporting each other like family. During the 2011 tsunami in Japan, people united to help each other in the face of destruction. Why do we see such kindness during hardship? Even in India, where differences in culture and religion can cause division, people come together to help each other when disaster strikes. Why this shift in perspective? It seems that when things get truly difficult, the small stuff becomes insignificant. We realize that being together matters most. Does this mean only disasters can bring people together? What about the good times?

So, what does human connection really mean to people?

After thinking about this, I believe people still deeply value three things:

1. Strong Human Connections – Caring for each other’s emotions with respect, compassion, and support.
2. A Reason to Come Together – Spending time together, which creates lasting memories.
3. New Experiences – Breaking from routine to create fresh memories, which strengthen connections.

Emotions and memories are the foundation of human connection.

Emotions are the way people respond—joy, sadness, anger, empathy. They can be positive or negative, and while everyone’s sensitivity differs, we all feel emotions.

Memories are stored within us, also positive or negative, depending on the situation. They capture shared hardships and good times, and each shared moment becomes a memory.

Human connections are built on memories and emotions. Memories evoke different emotions, and similarly, emotions can bring up memories. These two are intricately linked. Memories can elicit a range of emotions depending on the context, and emotions, in turn, revive memories.

If happiness is about connection, then emotions and memories are what create those strong, meaningful bonds.