Altruism is the unselfish concern for other people—doing things simply out of a desire to help, not because you feel obligated to out of duty, loyalty, or religious reasons. It involves acting out of concern for the well-being of other people. Show
In some cases, these acts of altruism lead people to jeopardize themselves to help others. Such behaviors are often performed unselfishly and without any expectations
of reward. Other instances, known as reciprocal altruism, involve taking actions to help others with the expectation that they will offer help in return. Examples of AltruismEveryday life is filled with small acts of altruism, from holding the door for strangers to giving money to people in need. News stories often focus on grander cases of altruism, such as a man who dives into an icy river to rescue a drowning stranger or a donor who gives thousands of dollars to a local charity. Some examples of altruism include:
Types of AltruismPsychologists have identified several different types of altruistic behavior. These include:
What Causes Altruism?While we may be familiar with altruism, social psychologists are interested in understanding why it occurs. What inspires these acts of kindness? What motivates people to risk their own lives to save a complete stranger? Altruism is one aspect of what is known as prosocial behavior. Prosocial behavior refers to any action that benefits other people, no matter what the motive or how the giver benefits from the action. While all altruistic acts are prosocial, not all prosocial behaviors are completely altruistic. We might help others for a variety of reasons such as guilt, obligation, duty, or even for rewards. We're not sure why altruism exists, but psychologists have suggested a number of different explanations. EvolutionPsychologists have long debated whether some people are just born with a natural tendency to help others, a theory that suggests that altruism may be influenced by genetics. Kin selection is an evolutionary theory that proposes that people are more likely to help those who are blood relatives because it will increase the odds of gene transmission to future generations, thus ensuring the continuation of shared genes. The more closely the individuals are related, the more likely people are to help. Prosocial behaviors such as altruism, cooperativeness, and empathy may also have a genetic basis. Brain-Based RewardsAltruism activates reward centers in the brain. Neurobiologists have found that when a person behaves altruistically, the pleasure centers of their brain become more active. Engaging in compassionate actions activates the areas of the brain associated with the reward system. The positive feelings created by compassionate actions then reinforce altruistic behaviors. EnvironmentInteractions and relationships with others have a major influence on altruistic behavior, and socialization may have a significant impact on altruistic actions in young children. In one study, children who observed simple reciprocal acts of altruism were far more likely to exhibit altruistic actions. On the other hand, friendly but non-altruistic actions did not inspire the same results. Modeling altruistic actions can be an important way to foster prosocial and compassionate actions in children. Observing prosocial behavior seems to lead to helping behavior among adults as well (though the extent to which this occurs varies based on factors like gender, culture, and individual context). Social NormsSociety's rules, norms, and expectations can also influence whether or not people engage in altruistic behavior. The norm of reciprocity, for example, is a social expectation in which we feel pressured to help others if they have already done something for us. For example, if your friend loaned you money for lunch a few weeks ago, you'll probably feel compelled to reciprocate when they ask you if they can borrow $100. They did something for you, now you feel obligated to do something in return. IncentivesWhile the definition of altruism involves doing for others without reward, there may still be cognitive incentives that are not obvious. For example, we might help others to relieve our own distress or because being kind to others upholds our view of ourselves as kind people. Other cognitive explanations include:
Impact of AltruismWhile altruism can have some drawbacks when taken to extremes, it is a positive force that can benefit both you and others. Altruism has a wide range of benefits, like:
In addition to these benefits, engaging in altruism can also help improve social connections and relationships, which can ultimately play a part in improving health and wellness. Fostering AltruismSome people come by altruistic tendencies naturally, but there are things you can do to help foster helpful behaviors in yourself and others. These include:
Potential Pitfalls of AltruismThere can be some possible drawbacks and difficulties to altruism, like:
People who work in helping professions may find themselves emotionally overwhelmed by caring for and helping others. In a more severe example, a person who altruistically adopts animals may shift into animal hoarding, reaching a point where they can no longer house or care for the animals they have taken in. Despite these potential problems, altruism is generally a positive force in the world, and it's a skill worth developing. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
By Kendra Cherry
Thanks for your feedback! Is the motive for helping behavior egoism or altruism?Altruistic help
Although many researchers believe that egoism is the only motivation for helping, others suggest that altruism—helping that has as its ultimate goal the improvement of another's welfare—may also be a motivation for helping under the right circumstances.
Is helping and altruism same?Altruism is distinguished from helping behavior. Altruism refers to prosocial behaviors that are carried out without expectation of obtaining external reward (concrete reward or social reward) or internal reward (self-reward). An example of altruism would be anonymously donating to charity.
What is the difference between egoism and altruism?Altruism and egoism are two views of human motivation. Altruism holds that people can act to benefit others rather than simply pursuing their own self-interest. Egoism holds that people seek to pursue their own self-interest.
What are examples of egoism?Most egoists believe you should sometimes help others, but only because it is in your interest. For example, an ethical egoist may think it good to scratch another's back, but only because this act is somehow in his rational self-interest (e.g. the other will scratch his back in return).
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