Altruism

Definition

Altruism is the unselfish concern for the welfare of others, where an individual acts to benefit another person without expecting any personal reward or gain. It is a key concept in the study of prosocial behavior, which encompasses actions intended to help or benefit others.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Altruism is often contrasted with egoism, where an individual acts primarily to benefit themselves rather than others.
2. Evolutionary psychologists suggest that altruism may have evolved as a strategy to promote group survival and cooperation.
3. Research has shown that altruistic behavior can be influenced by factors such as mood, social norms, and the perceived cost of the altruistic act.
4. Altruism can take many forms, including volunteering, charitable donations, and heroic acts that put the well-being of others before one's own.
5. Altruistic behavior has been linked to positive mental health outcomes, such as increased life satisfaction and a sense of purpose.

Review Questions

• Explain how altruism is related to prosocial behavior.
  • Altruism is a key component of prosocial behavior, which encompasses actions intended to help or benefit others. Altruistic acts, where an individual acts to benefit another person without expecting any personal reward or gain, are a prime example of prosocial behavior. The unselfish concern for the welfare of others that characterizes altruism is a fundamental aspect of prosocial actions that are motivated by a desire to help or cooperate with others, rather than to serve one's own interests.
• Describe the potential evolutionary origins of altruistic behavior.
  • Evolutionary psychologists suggest that altruism may have evolved as a strategy to promote group survival and cooperation. By engaging in altruistic acts that benefit the group, individuals may have increased their chances of survival and reproductive success, as the group as a whole would be more likely to thrive. This evolutionary perspective proposes that altruism emerged as a adaptive trait that conferred advantages to both the individual and the larger social group, fostering the development of cooperative and prosocial behaviors that enhanced the chances of group survival.
• Analyze how various factors can influence the expression of altruistic behavior.
  • Research has shown that altruistic behavior can be influenced by a variety of factors, including mood, social norms, and the perceived cost of the altruistic act. For example, individuals in a positive mood may be more likely to engage in altruistic acts, as positive emotions can increase empathy and the desire to help others. Similarly, social norms and cultural values that promote prosocial behavior can shape the expression of altruism, as individuals may feel compelled to conform to these expectations. Additionally, the perceived cost or risk associated with an altruistic act can also impact the likelihood of an individual engaging in such behavior, as people may be more inclined to help others when the personal cost is relatively low.

Related terms

Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, which can motivate altruistic behavior.

Prosocial Behavior: Voluntary actions that are intended to help or benefit others, including altruism, cooperation, and sharing.

Reciprocity: The expectation that when we help others, they will return the favor, which can influence altruistic acts.