You're so welcome, Joanna. I enjoy connecting more with my readers in this way.
Robyn, thanks so much for taking the time and care with these answers. I've found it interesting and informative - I hope others have too.
I've said it before but you really do have an amazing resource here, thanks for sharing your knowledge so freely with us all.
Joanna
Joanna, your brain sizzles and I love the questions that result. And I enjoy the fact that you're noting shades of differences.
I'll look at these one at a time... There could be subtle differences in the giving that might prompt larger doses of serotin for some over others. For instance, a first time experience that's immensely satisfying would prompt much serotinin. And it's like all things, the more you do it, the more it can become routine, which would not cause as much to flow each time. Similarly, if you write a check and that's all you do, and you quickly go on to do something else on a busy day, you would likely receive less than giving a group a hand all day at a clean-up project. On the other hand if you have lots of money, but donate the bulk of it at once as Warren Buffet did, I sense you would have a great serotonin flow. Or if you're poor and give all you have at the moment to help a street person, I sense this would bring much flow as well. So yes, the amount of connection, time and money spent greatly influence the amount of serotonin that's sent through your brain and body.
When you give to get something out of it, it changes the nature of giving and the serotonin that would result. My sense is that it diminishes because "getting" is completely opposite to giving.
Again, there are shades of difference in gratitude and giving. And it depends on the unique ways each touches an individual. And how much a person's involved. For instance, if a person's in dire need after a fire, and the town meets immediate needs by putting the family in a hotel, the amount of gratitude would be higher. And the serotonin would be affected by how soon worry takes over about other problems they face.
The same area of the brain's involved for both gratitude and giving - the medial section of the prefrontal cortex.
Joanna, if you have more questions, please do ask. These are challenging and fun at the same time - and, oh, I know serotonin stirred as I answered because it involved giving to you!
Robyn, thanks for more food for thought. A few questions spring to mind - as always! Your writing does get me thinking.
I'm assuming the chemical reaction would be the same with other forms of giving - the sort more ordinary folk can do - like giving generously with their time, their words, their acts of kindness?
The second thought was a bit more challenging. Does the knowledge that giving releases serotonin change the way we value the act of giving? And then again - if you do it in order to get the chemical release - does that change the effect? Hmm... getting into some old philosophical chestnuts here, not to distract from my third question which was
Is there a link with gratitude? I find when I practice gratitude or feel it full on it's one of the best senses of well-being I can have (I'm learning this is chemically induced!) Are these the same chemicals, or different? Do we know if there's a relationship between gratitude and giving - does one lead to the other (and which way round?!) - or do they just complement each other leading to a total serotonin experience?
Apologies - I think there were more than 3 questions there!
Joanna
Jackie, I so agreee... The reward comes in the doing whether you help others learn to do it or you do it as you learn a new task. There's great satisfaction at both ends of the spectrum. If you receive a handout, there might be a mometary satisfaction to meet an immediate need, but it doesn't last. I think that's why Brooke Astor's gifts did more - she provided tools beyond the immediate needs.
There are many people who give money for good works - some anonymously and others publically. Then there are those who - in addition - give of themselves. I am inspired to find out more about Brooke Astor.
I have worked a few people who support people in moving their lives forward. The are, in my experience, extremely focused, passionate and human. And what they do gives them a buzz - guess that's the serotonin kicking in.
For me there is nothing more rewarding than being with someone as they start to realise their capabilities and take responsibility for making things happen for themselves.
Jackie
Bob, she certainly did much to move many of the poor to richer life by providing tools to do it!
Truly an incredible lady! The key thing is that she didn't just give it away, she encouraged and enabled the poor to help themselves, breaking a cycle that in some cases may have seemed insurmountable.
Now that's the way to live - making a palpable difference in other peoples' lives!
Thanks for pointing this out, Robyn 
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