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The Science of Kindness & Finding Joy in Data | Prof. Robin Banerjee on Psychology & Empathy

Data Malarkey - the podcast about using data smarter

Release Date: 03/19/2025

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Is kindness just a “soft” concept, or is there real science behind it? In this episode of the Data Malarkey podcast, Master Data Storyteller Sam Knowles is joined by Professor Robin Banerjee, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement at the University of Sussex. Robin’s research explores the psychology of kindness, empathy, and human connection, revealing how data can unlock powerful insights about our social world.

From leading the BBC Kindness Test – a groundbreaking study with over 60,000 participants – to his work on how fiction and television shape empathy, Robin shares fascinating insights about the science of human connection. He also explains why he finds joy in data – a phrase that might just change how you see statistics forever.

What you'll learn in this episode:

  • The psychology behind kindness—what drives it, and how we measure it

  • Surprising insights from the BBC Kindness Test

  • How fiction and TV shape our ability to empathise

  • The joy in data and why it’s more than just numbers

  • Why understanding human behaviour through research is so important

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction
01:27 - Robin Banerjee’s career and research focus
07:43 - What makes someone kind?
13:53 - The BBC Kindness Test: Key findings
20:02 - The psychology of human connection
30:36 - Finding joy in data
39:07 - Empathy and storytelling: fiction vs reality
45:00 - What TV tells us about our emotions
50:30 - Where to find out more about Robin’s research

About our guest:

Professor Robin Banerjee is a leading researcher in developmental psychology and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement at the University of Sussex. His work focuses on kindness, empathy, and social development, and he is the founder of the Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness.

Robin’s research has been featured widely, including his collaboration with BBC Radio 4 on the Kindness Test, the largest study of its kind, exploring how people experience and perceive kindness across different cultures and communities.

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