[RV86]

Per the read, I didn't find that Kindness had been isolated as a variable.

From an anthropological standpoint, one could argue that someone kind or charitable would be attractive -- not necessarily because we prize virtue -- but because we assume that person has resources to spare.

[flocial]

I totally agree. This title is misleading. All the examples indicate people who "contribute social value" such as hard work, harmony with others, etc. None of these are dependent on kindness. I think the submitter is confounding it with the popular "nice guys finish last" conception.

[taskstrike]

I totally agree that kindness has not been isolated. It seems that if anything, social status and respect has been isolated. Two cases they mentioned, a slacker on a team that's a guy, and a girl who is hardworking, are both worthy of respect and disrespect but no kindness was demonstrated.