Singaporeans were less gracious this year as compared to the year before, according to the latestGraciousness Index issued Tuesday.
1,200 survey respondents were polled between January and February about the experience and perception of kindness and graciousness they experienced during the same period last year. Out of the number, slightly over 70 percent polled were Singapore citizens, with permanent residents and long-term pass holders making up the rest.
Respondents who said they have been on the receiving end of graciousness fell from 65 percent in 2012, to 41 percent this year. They also reported doing fewer acts of graciousness, dropping from 83 percent to 62 percent.
Commissioned by the Singapore Kindness Movement, the index also said only half of respondents have witnessed a random gracious act this year -- a drop from close to three-quarters of respondents last year.
Although the overall perceived graciousness rating fell 0.4 points to 5.8 this year, the survey concluded that most behaviour-related ratings remained generally stable.
One in five rated Singapore as having improved on its overall graciousness levels. The best performing pillar went to courtesy, with a gain of 0.3 points. The pillar was the lowest-performing one last year.
Besides graciousness and courtesy, the other two pillars of perception are consideration and gratitude.
The survey also reviewed qualitative improvements from respondents, such as commuters giving up seats to those in need and making space to accommodate incoming passengers on board public transport. Most respondents rated Singaporeans' behaviour in acts of courtesy as between “good” and “excellent”.
The top suggestion by respondents to improve kindness was to foster neighbourliness. Respondents showed concern towards gracious behaviour on social media, with a general agreement of the need to express more views online but not enough recognition of the need to be gracious on the Internet.