Acts of altruism


What Is Altruism? Examples and Types of Altruistic Behavior

Altruism involves engaging in selfless acts for the pleasure of it. An example is giving your jacket and shoes to an unsheltered person.

Share on PinterestExamples of altruism include donating items, volunteering, and protecting those who can’t protect themselves. ( goc/Getty Images)

Altruism is a personal value that arises from genuine concern for other people’s well-being.

From everyday gestures, like giving up your seat to give to someone else, to life changing acts of kindness, like donating a kidney, life presents many examples of altruism.

No matter how small or big the effort, altruistic behavior typically has many benefits. For one, just like gratitude and compassion, people who engage in it say it feels really good.

Altruism is the selfless act of helping others without expecting anything in return. “It is often considered one of the defining characteristics of what it means to be human,” says Dr. Jessica Myszak, a psychologist in Glenview, Illinois.

If you’ve heard about the Golden Rule, the concept of karma, or loving thy neighbors, you may already be familiar with the basics of altruism, a prosocial behavior.

“Altruism often arises from a personal sense of compassion or duty, and it can be a powerful force for good in the world,” says Myszak. “It can take many different forms, from volunteering your time to service organizations to anonymously donating gifts or money to those in need.”

Empathy seems to be the foundation of altruistic behavior, which can be further motivated by positive moral rewards, a sense of satisfaction and happiness, and external factors.

Experts have long been fascinated by the motivations of human cooperation, noting four distinct types of altruism:

  • Kin altruism. It happens when you unselfishly support your family members and loved ones or make personal sacrifices on their behalf.
  • Reciprocal altruism. It occurs when you help someone knowing that, at some point, they may help you in the future as well.
  • Cultural group altruism. It involves supporting someone who’s part of a group you are associated with, including ethnic and social groups.
  • Pure altruism. It involves helping someone from a place of empathy knowing you will see no benefit, often in high stake situations.

There’s no one exclusive way to practice acts of kindness and empathy toward others — it all counts. Altruistic behavior can come in many forms, and it depends on the type of altruism.

Kin altruism

  • letting a loved one eat the last piece of cake when you really want it
  • giving your sweater to a partner when it’s cold even if you just have a t-shirt on
  • caregiving for a relative with a chronic condition
  • donating blood or a major organ to your sibling
  • taking a second job to pay for your child’s education
  • fostering or adopting children

Reciprocal altruism

  • loaning a friend money, who helped you cover bills
  • helping your classmate with a project, who helped you study
  • holding the elevator for your colleague, who brought you a coffee
  • helping your neighbor lift a heavy package, who helped you fix your car
  • watching your friend’s children for an afternoon, who puppy-sat your dog

Cultural group altruism

  • starting a nonprofit for a cause you care about
  • donating money to an organization that supports people of your background
  • donating items to people in your religious group
  • bringing refreshments to an event at your kid’s school
  • picking up trash at your neighborhood park or beach

Pure altruism

  • giving a person who’s unhoused spare change and a new pair of shoes
  • holding open the door for a stranger
  • helping an older adult walking with a cane cross the street
  • volunteering at a soup kitchen
  • bringing a lost animal to the shelter
  • adopting an animal from a kill shelter
  • complimenting someone’s outfit
  • donating your clothes to a shelter
  • giving up your seat to give to a pregnant person
  • playing music for older adults in assisted living
  • paying for the person in front of you in the drive-thru
  • offering pro bono professional services
  • delivering food to people with limited mobility
  • letting someone with fewer grocery items go ahead of you

Examples of altruism in nature

Altruism is a phenomenon documented among human and animal populations alike.

There may be an evolutionary advantage, particularly for animals in the same family. By helping their own, their relatives may be more likely to pass on altruistic genes to future generations.

“Many animals behave in a way that benefits others, sometimes even to their own detriment,” says Myszak.

“Birds will often warn each other of predators, and mammals will put themselves in danger to protect their young. Animals with complex social structures like bees, ants, and termites protect the other members of their community,” she explains.

“There are even examples of animals helping other species in altruistic ways,” adds Myszak. “Whales and dolphins have been witnessed ‘adopting’ animals in need and showing other species how to escape shallow waters.”

For one, altruism may make the world a kinder place. But it turns out, there are other numerous benefits of altruism to your physical and emotional well-being, too.

“The rewards that come from helping others can be lasting and palpable,” says Dr. Carla Manly, a clinical psychologist in Santa Rosa, California, and author of the book “Joy From Fear.”

“Individuals who are emotionally, mentally, and behaviorally compassionate tend to thrive on personal and interpersonal levels,” she says. “Research supports the fact that altruistic behaviors are associated with greater overall physical health, longevity, happiness, and well-being.”

Altruism and prosocial behavior may:

  • enhance social connections
  • increase your sense of community
  • improve your mood
  • protect against cognitive decline
  • provide a sense of purpose
  • reduce a sense of loneliness
  • relieve physical pain

“Altruism is also associated with post-traumatic growth,” says Manly. “Engaging in acts of kindness towards others can be healing for those who have lived through trauma and other mental health conditions.”

1. Consider mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of staying in the present moment. When you learn to disengage from distractions, this may open you up to notice the world around you right here, right now.

For example, the person who’s unhoused on the street corner, the chipping paint at your place of worship, or the community garden in need of a good watering. All of these could be opportunities to act altruistically.

2. Try to grow in empathy

To enhance your empathy, you may want to consider:

  • trying to make direct eye contact when someone talks with you
  • attending gatherings with diverse groups of people
  • following people on social media who are different from you
  • listening actively to other people’s perspectives, especially people you disagree with
  • checking in with neighbors and co-workers

3. Starting small may help

“Many people can incorporate altruism into their everyday life with small acts of kindness,” says Myszak.

“For example, you can hold the door open for someone, pick up trash that you see on the ground, or offer to help a friend with a project,” she explains. “By performing small acts of kindness on a daily basis, these can add up to big differences in the world.”

4. Consider a group effort

If you feel a little nervous about walking into a new or vulnerable situation, you may find it helpful to reach out to a friend or loved one.

Try to see if they would be willing to join you for an afternoon at a soup kitchen, assisted living facility, or animal shelter, for example.

5. Try to find the right fit

“As you develop a practice of altruism, try to find a good fit to ensure that you don’t overextend yourself,” says Manly.

“For example, you might find several options for volunteering [a pet shelter, community garden, or a shelter for unhoused people] and visit each one to see which environment feels best,” she explains.

Once you commit to an activity that resonates, you can become more invested over time.

“As you give back, it’s important to engage good self-care and solid boundaries to ensure that you care for yourself while also giving to others,” she adds.

Altruism involves acting selflessly for the benefit of others. It can have a meaningful impact on those around you.

Altruistic behavior links to a range of benefits, like improved emotional well-being and physical health.

You may find it helpful to deepen your empathy by connecting with others around you, starting small, and asking loved ones to join you.

What Is Altruism? Examples and Types of Altruistic Behavior

Altruism involves engaging in selfless acts for the pleasure of it. An example is giving your jacket and shoes to an unsheltered person.

Share on PinterestExamples of altruism include donating items, volunteering, and protecting those who can’t protect themselves. ( goc/Getty Images)

Altruism is a personal value that arises from genuine concern for other people’s well-being.

From everyday gestures, like giving up your seat to give to someone else, to life changing acts of kindness, like donating a kidney, life presents many examples of altruism.

No matter how small or big the effort, altruistic behavior typically has many benefits. For one, just like gratitude and compassion, people who engage in it say it feels really good.

Altruism is the selfless act of helping others without expecting anything in return. “It is often considered one of the defining characteristics of what it means to be human,” says Dr. Jessica Myszak, a psychologist in Glenview, Illinois.

If you’ve heard about the Golden Rule, the concept of karma, or loving thy neighbors, you may already be familiar with the basics of altruism, a prosocial behavior.

“Altruism often arises from a personal sense of compassion or duty, and it can be a powerful force for good in the world,” says Myszak. “It can take many different forms, from volunteering your time to service organizations to anonymously donating gifts or money to those in need.”

Empathy seems to be the foundation of altruistic behavior, which can be further motivated by positive moral rewards, a sense of satisfaction and happiness, and external factors.

Experts have long been fascinated by the motivations of human cooperation, noting four distinct types of altruism:

  • Kin altruism. It happens when you unselfishly support your family members and loved ones or make personal sacrifices on their behalf.
  • Reciprocal altruism. It occurs when you help someone knowing that, at some point, they may help you in the future as well.
  • Cultural group altruism. It involves supporting someone who’s part of a group you are associated with, including ethnic and social groups.
  • Pure altruism. It involves helping someone from a place of empathy knowing you will see no benefit, often in high stake situations.

There’s no one exclusive way to practice acts of kindness and empathy toward others — it all counts. Altruistic behavior can come in many forms, and it depends on the type of altruism.

Kin altruism

  • letting a loved one eat the last piece of cake when you really want it
  • giving your sweater to a partner when it’s cold even if you just have a t-shirt on
  • caregiving for a relative with a chronic condition
  • donating blood or a major organ to your sibling
  • taking a second job to pay for your child’s education
  • fostering or adopting children

Reciprocal altruism

  • loaning a friend money, who helped you cover bills
  • helping your classmate with a project, who helped you study
  • holding the elevator for your colleague, who brought you a coffee
  • helping your neighbor lift a heavy package, who helped you fix your car
  • watching your friend’s children for an afternoon, who puppy-sat your dog

Cultural group altruism

  • starting a nonprofit for a cause you care about
  • donating money to an organization that supports people of your background
  • donating items to people in your religious group
  • bringing refreshments to an event at your kid’s school
  • picking up trash at your neighborhood park or beach

Pure altruism

  • giving a person who’s unhoused spare change and a new pair of shoes
  • holding open the door for a stranger
  • helping an older adult walking with a cane cross the street
  • volunteering at a soup kitchen
  • bringing a lost animal to the shelter
  • adopting an animal from a kill shelter
  • complimenting someone’s outfit
  • donating your clothes to a shelter
  • giving up your seat to give to a pregnant person
  • playing music for older adults in assisted living
  • paying for the person in front of you in the drive-thru
  • offering pro bono professional services
  • delivering food to people with limited mobility
  • letting someone with fewer grocery items go ahead of you

Examples of altruism in nature

Altruism is a phenomenon documented among human and animal populations alike.

There may be an evolutionary advantage, particularly for animals in the same family. By helping their own, their relatives may be more likely to pass on altruistic genes to future generations.

“Many animals behave in a way that benefits others, sometimes even to their own detriment,” says Myszak.

“Birds will often warn each other of predators, and mammals will put themselves in danger to protect their young. Animals with complex social structures like bees, ants, and termites protect the other members of their community,” she explains.

“There are even examples of animals helping other species in altruistic ways,” adds Myszak. “Whales and dolphins have been witnessed ‘adopting’ animals in need and showing other species how to escape shallow waters.”

For one, altruism may make the world a kinder place. But it turns out, there are other numerous benefits of altruism to your physical and emotional well-being, too.

“The rewards that come from helping others can be lasting and palpable,” says Dr. Carla Manly, a clinical psychologist in Santa Rosa, California, and author of the book “Joy From Fear.”

“Individuals who are emotionally, mentally, and behaviorally compassionate tend to thrive on personal and interpersonal levels,” she says. “Research supports the fact that altruistic behaviors are associated with greater overall physical health, longevity, happiness, and well-being.”

Altruism and prosocial behavior may:

  • enhance social connections
  • increase your sense of community
  • improve your mood
  • protect against cognitive decline
  • provide a sense of purpose
  • reduce a sense of loneliness
  • relieve physical pain

“Altruism is also associated with post-traumatic growth,” says Manly. “Engaging in acts of kindness towards others can be healing for those who have lived through trauma and other mental health conditions.”

1. Consider mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of staying in the present moment. When you learn to disengage from distractions, this may open you up to notice the world around you right here, right now.

For example, the person who’s unhoused on the street corner, the chipping paint at your place of worship, or the community garden in need of a good watering. All of these could be opportunities to act altruistically.

2. Try to grow in empathy

To enhance your empathy, you may want to consider:

  • trying to make direct eye contact when someone talks with you
  • attending gatherings with diverse groups of people
  • following people on social media who are different from you
  • listening actively to other people’s perspectives, especially people you disagree with
  • checking in with neighbors and co-workers

3. Starting small may help

“Many people can incorporate altruism into their everyday life with small acts of kindness,” says Myszak.

“For example, you can hold the door open for someone, pick up trash that you see on the ground, or offer to help a friend with a project,” she explains. “By performing small acts of kindness on a daily basis, these can add up to big differences in the world.”

4. Consider a group effort

If you feel a little nervous about walking into a new or vulnerable situation, you may find it helpful to reach out to a friend or loved one.

Try to see if they would be willing to join you for an afternoon at a soup kitchen, assisted living facility, or animal shelter, for example.

5. Try to find the right fit

“As you develop a practice of altruism, try to find a good fit to ensure that you don’t overextend yourself,” says Manly.

“For example, you might find several options for volunteering [a pet shelter, community garden, or a shelter for unhoused people] and visit each one to see which environment feels best,” she explains.

Once you commit to an activity that resonates, you can become more invested over time.

“As you give back, it’s important to engage good self-care and solid boundaries to ensure that you care for yourself while also giving to others,” she adds.

Altruism involves acting selflessly for the benefit of others. It can have a meaningful impact on those around you.

Altruistic behavior links to a range of benefits, like improved emotional well-being and physical health.

You may find it helpful to deepen your empathy by connecting with others around you, starting small, and asking loved ones to join you.

What is altruism and how it can be

Helping a colleague, we hope for mutual help in the future, and caring for children, for the survival of the family. Understanding what altruism is, how it is related to selfishness and why many people do good deeds selflessly

What is altruism

Altruism (from Latin Alter - other) is a selfless motivation of a person, entailing actions for the benefit of other people. The term was introduced into scientific circulation by the French philosopher Auguste Comte, who considered altruism to be the driving force behind the change in human society and the embodiment of the moral norm “to live for others”.

Observations of animals show that altruism is inherent not only in humans. For example, bats share food with weak individuals, and buffaloes protect injured relatives from predators.

Vera Ilkevich, zoologist, animal behaviorist:

“Altruism among animals is a bit different from the idea of ​​selfless altruism in human terms. A person relies on an established culture and ideology, and in the animal world, most forms of behavior are aimed at the survival of the species. This means that this form of behavior will be more developed among relatives. Baboons can sacrifice themselves by entering into an unequal fight with a predator, but mortally wound him and save the flock. Some species of thrushes warn relatives of danger with a loud whistle, while revealing themselves.

Egoists and altruists are present in approximately equal numbers in groups. If the pack contains only egoists or only altruists, it has no chance of survival. But from modern research, it is clear that some animals help because of the ability to empathize. After all, there are many irrational examples where unusual behavior does not benefit either the individual or his group.

Elephants take care of the baby elephants by the whole tribe. For example, during a dangerous situation, adults surround the young so that they will not be harmed. (Photo: Depositphotos)

Four types of altruism

While helping, some are guided by moral standards, others are guided by gain or genetic similarity. In the social and behavioral sciences, depending on the motives of the participants, four types of altruism are distinguished.

Kindred altruism

Kindred altruism is altruistic behavior that is explained by the presence of common genes between the helper and the recipient. According to the theory of general fitness put forward by the biologist W. D. Hamilton, such behavior is the way the whole species survives. A person always helps relatives first of all, because this increases the chances for the survival of his genotype.

Reciprocal (mutual) altruism

Reciprocal altruism is the provision of assistance aimed at reciprocal altruistic actions in the future. In other words, it is a mutually beneficial exchange between two or more people.

American evolutionary biologist and sociologist Robert Trivers introduced the concept of "mutual assistance" to explain why altruists help not only close people, but also strangers. According to this term, both parties benefit because our culture obliges us to repay the help that was previously provided. Even if the altruist does good deeds for free, the other side feels like a debtor.

Altruists get more benefits in the future because others treat them positively. People are more willing to meet someone who helps everyone than a person who is considered an egoist. In addition, society rewards altruists with approval: they are awarded medals, articles are written about them, they are smiled at on the street. Therefore, people who are dependent on the opinions of others and need social approval can do good deeds only for the sake of praise.

Maya Kolontaevskaya, clinical psychologist:

“Indeed, there are people who do good deeds to get the approval of society. Most often, they pursue these motives unconsciously, and, as a rule, behind such behavior are the needs to be accepted by society, to become part of a team. One of the main reasons for this behavior is upbringing. The need for social approval is for people who learned as a child that in order to get someone's love, you need to be good.

The rule also works in business. People are much more loyal to brands that show social initiative. In 2017, public relations company Porter Novelli conducted a survey among Americans, which showed that 67% of respondents are ready to abandon the company's products if they do not help in solving social problems of society or, on the contrary, exacerbate them.

Genuine altruism

Genuine altruism is pro-social behavior not based on immediate external gain. Science has not yet precisely determined the causes of true altruism and only suggests that these may be social norms, individual character traits, and the implicit benefit of the person providing assistance.

Thus, the Norwegian political scientist and sociologist Jun Elster put forward the opinion that moral standards are one of the main reasons why we help each other. For example, such a norm is the rule adopted by society “to help people in trouble, even if you don’t know them.”

Empathic altruism

Empathy is the ability to understand and feel the experiences of another person, as well as empathize with him. According to research by Daniel Batson, David A. Lishner, and Eric Stokes, people with high levels of empathy help a suffering person because they tend to put themselves in his shoes and experience the same emotions as him. By doing a good deed, they not only reduce the experiences of another person, but also get rid of their own.

Examples of altruism in life and literature

Life: Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara

On September 1, 1939, Germany attacked Poland, forcing the Jews living there to flee to neighboring Lithuania. A year later, Lithuania became part of the USSR.

Shortly before the country joined the Soviet Union, the diplomat Chiune Sugihara, who represented the Empire of Japan in Lithuania, was already packing his bags when representatives of the Jewish diaspora came to him asking for thousands of transit visas to cross the USSR and settle in the Far East, away from the borders of Germany . After a brief hesitation, the consul decided to help the refugees.

Despite Tokyo's directive to only issue visas to people who meet certain criteria, the diplomat issued them to everyone. Sugihara worked 20 hours a day, and when the forms ran out, he and his wife wrote them by hand. After Sugihara's consulate was closed, he rented a hotel room for three more days, where he continued to issue visas. Thanks to this act, about 6,000 Jews were able to leave Lithuania: they safely reached Japan, where they survived the war.

Transit visa issued by Consul Chiune Sugihara (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Literature: Danko from the story "Old Woman Izergil" by M.

Gorky

Enemies drove the Danko tribe deep into the forest to poisonous swamps, where many people died every day. To save his people, the hero decided to take everyone out of the forest. But the path turned out to be difficult: strong thunderstorms, darkness and dense trees did not allow finding the right path, and after a few hours people realized that they would never get out of here. The members of the tribe began to cry, get angry and blame the protagonist, but he found a solution. Danko tore out his heart from his chest and, lighting the way with it, led the people out of the dead forest to fertile lands. As soon as the tribe reached a safe place, he died.

Life: doctor and human rights activist Doctor Liza

Elizaveta Glinka is a Russian public figure and human rights activist, better known as Doctor Liza. She devoted her whole life to helping others. In 2007, Glinka founded the Fair Help public organization. Employees of this organization help cancer patients, low-income people and the homeless: they buy medicines, feed them, give legal advice and treat them.

When the conflict in Ukraine started in 2014, Elizaveta Glinka went to Donbass and took her out of the combat zone to Moscow for rehabilitation 495 wounded and sick children. And when the war in Syria began, she repeatedly went there with humanitarian missions, sent medicines and food products to hospitals and provided medical assistance to the victims. December 25, 2016, once again heading to Syria, Elizabeth Glinka died in a plane crash.

Elizaveta Glinka at the presentation of the state award for outstanding achievements in the field of charitable and human rights activities (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Literature: Professor Pirogov from the story "The Wonderful Doctor" by Alexander Kuprin

Walking in the park on Christmas Eve, Professor Pirogov met Emelyan Mertsalov, who lived with his family in the basement and was worried about the recent dismissal and the serious illness of his wife and daughter. After listening to Mertsalov's problems, the professor gave him money and sent him to the store for groceries, while he himself went to his house to examine the patients. He provided them with first aid, wrote out a prescription for medicines, gave them the number of a good doctor and money to live on. All this happened on Christmas Eve: instead of spending a festive evening with his family, like everyone else, Pirogov devoted time to those in need.

Life: actor Konstantin Khabensky

In 2008, Konstantin Khabensky founded a charitable foundation to help children with cancer. At first, he did not advertise the activities of the fund and invested in it earned money. But in order to save more children, about a year later he told his colleagues about the project and organized the first charity event in Gorky Park.

Konstantin Khabensky at the Ronald McDonald House in Kazan for children undergoing long-term treatment (Photo: News of Tatarstan)

Today, the Konstantin Khabensky Foundation pays for the treatment and diagnosis of children with cancer, supplies the necessary equipment to hospitals and homes, and sponsors advanced training for doctors. In 2021 alone, the fund raised ₽500 million, which went to help other people.

Is there a connection between altruism and selfishness

Usually people contrast altruism and selfishness, using these terms as antonyms. In fact, there are studies that prove that these phenomena are connected. For example, the scientific work of Doctor of Psychological Sciences L. Z. Levit and Candidate of Philological Sciences E. Z. Shevaldysheva. During the survey, the researchers found that most of the respondents, helping others, were guided by their own benefit. This means that the prerequisite for committing an altruistic act is most often selfishness.

Through experimentation and observation, scientists John Darley and Bibb Latane came to the same conclusion. They divided into five stages the process by which a person makes a decision in providing assistance. According to the researchers, at the first stage, when a person only learned about the need to help, he calculates the ratio of costs and future rewards in case of a good deed.

When altruism harms

Constant concern for other people can harm all sides of the altruistic act. In psychiatry, there is a concept of pathological altruism, according to which a person can sometimes provide help "in a painful form", even when they do not need it. And this form of altruism must be fought.

Viktor Lebedev, psychiatrist, science journalist, member of the advisory council of the Alzrus Foundation for Dementia Patients:

“In the case of pathological altruism, the one who helps becomes the main beneficiary: “I helped - I did a great job.” A person works out a scenario without focusing on the real needs of the person who needs help. He knows better how and whom to help, and this makes the help ineffective or even harms the other. Usually such people have difficulty understanding the emotions of others and with building deep emotional bonds.

Another situation is helping everyone indiscriminately and without rest. These "rescuers" are people who solve their problems for others, often without asking for it, and are guided by their own vision of the situation. Often such help is ineffective, because at some point the “rescuer” gets tired of the burden of responsibility for the life of another person and abandons him, stopping any help and sometimes leaving him in an even more difficult situation.

When altruism becomes pathological, a person begins to "do" good, and not to do it. The most striking example of this phenomenon is excessive maternal care. Associate Professor of the Department of Depth Psychology and Psychotherapy Valery Dorozhkin in the book “Altruism: this is the name of goodness” writes that the behavior of mothers, in which they give everything for the sake of their children and forget about themselves, forms a sense of guilt in the latter. A child who grew up in such an environment sometimes feels so obligated that he lives with his parents all his life and does only what they need. The author believes that such a strategy of behavior spoils the life of the woman herself, because she devotes herself completely to the child, forgetting about her interests, and when he grows up and moves away, she is left with nothing.

In addition to psychological harm from excessive parental altruism, Dorozhkin also writes about physical harm. For example, when parents give money to a grown child, and he is addicted and spends it on alcohol, drugs and gambling.

The American researcher Barbara Oakley also writes about the physical harm of excessive altruism. As an example, she cites a situation where the relatives of a person who is dependent on painkillers and is trying to fight it continue to buy him medicines. They want to help, but they only make things worse.

Excessive altruism is also harmful in other situations. For example, if a person works day and night in public organizations and ignores his personal life, health and personal care, he may be faced with the fact that outside of volunteering he has no life as such.

Altruism: what is it, types, theories, examples, who is an altruist

Most people are ready to selflessly help their loved ones if they are in trouble. But how far does this kind of kindness extend? Forbes Life understands what altruism is and what forces us to act in the interests of others

Principles of altruism

The definition of altruism in psychology is rather vague. As a rule, it is understood as behavior that is expressed in caring for other people. An altruist is a selfless person who does things out of a desire to help, and not because he is obligated to do so by a sense of duty, social pressure, or religious considerations. This phenomenon is the opposite of selfishness. However, some theories of altruism do not exclude the existence of a benefit that may not even be realized by the altruist. There are three main principles of altruism:

  • Sacrifice. By it they mean the willingness to give up their goals for the sake of dear people. It is believed that altruism is most clearly manifested with the help of close relatives.
  • Unselfishness. An altruist expects nothing in return. He will never make a deal with his conscience, helping another in order to manipulate him in the future.
  • Justice. This is a kind of moral compass and at the same time the engine of altruism. The struggle for justice unites people, motivates them to act together without pursuing personal gain.

Ancient thinkers talked about human virtues. Then, with the advent of the Christian religion, love for one's neighbor and love for God were interpreted as one whole. The term "altruism" appeared only in the 19th century. It was introduced into science by the philosopher and sociologist Auguste Comte, meaning by this word life for the sake of others as a principle of high morality. Comte rejected religious generosity, because, according to the philosopher, it had a selfish goal of saving the soul. Nietzsche did not accept altruism, because he saw in it a manifestation of the "morality of slaves. " Freud believed that gratuitous help to others cures feelings of guilt.

Related material

In what situations does altruism “switch on”

Darwin's scientific theory says that those individuals that best adapt to circumstances survive and evolve. That is, not those who are the most physically strong, but those who can change their qualities, adapt to adverse factors. There are very few examples of sacrificial behavior in nature, animals act towards each other according to the principle of the strong. But even they show altruistic behavior in groups when it is necessary to ensure the survival of the species. People's motives are often driven by the same mechanisms.

Half a century ago, it was assumed that pure altruism does not exist and that this phenomenon has egoistic preconditions: “This theory is 60 years out of date. personality. Feeling part of the joy of others is a manifestation of empathy. Whether a person should suffer by committing altruistic deeds is a philosophical question. The modern theory of altruism does not support this. Altruism is about creating a quality society around oneself, feeling good about oneself and getting personal joy through empathy,” notes neuropsychologist Alena Vanchenko.

Sometimes altruistic behavior encourages people to risk their lives to help others. At the heart of heroic altruism is a sense of empathy - the ability to sympathize, emotionally feel the pain of one's neighbor. A striking example is the activities of Elizabeth Glinka, known as Doctor Lisa.

In other cases, people help others with an altruistic goal, that is, in the hope that they will be offered equivalent help in return. For example, a colleague takes part of your work, hoping that you will thank him in kind. There is pragmatism here, but this behavior is not only due to the conscious search for benefits: biological reasons are also involved. For example, some species of bats can live only 36 hours without food. Scientists have wondered why their population is holding its own when it is calculated that it should be declining. It turned out that the animals feed their relatives, weakened by hunger, with their prey, since tomorrow they may be in their place.

Why altruism is beneficial to society and supported in it

There are several sociological theories explaining why altruistic behavior is beneficial to society. Doing selfless acts for others is an example of a pro-social (reciprocal, socially conditioned) phenomenon. As with animals, helping fellow humans helps people survive as a species.

All altruistic actions are prosocial, not all prosocial actions are completely altruistic. That is, altruism arises on a certain basis and is supported by a number of mechanisms. Scientists have come up with the following theories for the conservation of this phenomenon:

  1. Genetic. Empathy, responsiveness, the ability to find a compromise are 50% genetically determined. The other 50% is related to environmental factors. Genes responsible for altruistic behavior can be inherited.
  2. Emotional. The positive reaction of the one to whom you provide selfless help contributes to the production of endorphins - hormones of pleasure. This encourages repeating such actions over and over again. The strength of attachment to a person also matters: with regular acts of altruism, it grows.
  3. Adaptive. In a number of experiments, it has been observed that children willingly repeat altruistic patterns of behavior. And the most effective interaction with peers. Early social adaptation (preschool age) helps to develop altruistic traits in a child.
  4. Social expectations. People tend to avoid the guilt that will arise if they do not conform to the norms dictated by society. Giving way to a pregnant woman on a public transport or taking an elderly person across the road are examples of altruism with a social expectation mechanism.

Based on these theories, psychologists distinguish several different types of altruism. Each of them is specific to a particular situation. Thus, reciprocal altruism assumes assistance on the principle of credit: it is assumed that the assistance will have to be repaid, like a debt. Demonstrative altruism obeys the norms of society and is based on the rules of moral behavior and good manners. A compensatory view is a way to relieve oneself of the guilt of supposed inaction. Rational is associated with thinking about one's actions, which should not violate the boundaries of others or cause harm to others. Parental altruism implies the self-denial of an adult in favor of the needs of the child. There is also a kind of situational altruism, when a conditional manipulator encourages a person to perform some action in his favor, neglecting personal interests.

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Who is an altruist and how to become one

Altruism and egoism are two sides of the same coin. An altruist has such personality traits as sensitivity, responsibility, nonconformity, generosity, friendliness and even naivety. Often such people are in harmony with themselves, live life to the fullest and have somehow resolved their psychological problems. They are mature enough to take responsibility for their actions, including mistakes and failures.

True, there is also the opposite effect: researchers believe that the conscious cultivation of altruistic traits in oneself helps to cope with neurotic disorders. Some people tend to be altruistic, while others are more selfish. But everyone can develop positive qualities in themselves: “It is possible to develop altruistic qualities only by developing the habit of engaging in altruism. You need to start with the help of relatives, friends, colleagues. You don't need to aim to save the world, because you will never do it. If you want to change the world, start taking care of your loved ones. Loving the abstract world is easy and irresponsible. And to love specific people who can be both angry and jealous, and in general not always behave towards you the way you want - this is precisely the training of altruistic qualities, ”recommends neuropsychologist Alena Vanchenko.

First you need to follow how you behave in conflict situations, whether you easily compromise and how often quarrels end in a complete break in relations on your initiative. If you regularly challenge others to choose between your interests and their own, the road to altruism will not be easy. It is important not to confuse selfishness with selfishness (the exaltation of one's interests, but without prejudice to others) and individualism (when private interests are put above the common ones). The most dangerous form is destructive aggression: “From the point of view of psychology, there is no excessive egoism. Healthy egoism - when a person takes care of his self, qualitatively keeps the boundaries. When he becomes an aggressor, he begins to overstep the boundaries of other people, ”says neuropsychologist Alena Vanchenko.

The aggressor is convinced of his superiority over others and believes that he can transgress other people's boundaries or that he should be delivered from socially imposed moral norms. He is often compared to a baby who demands almost maternal behavior from strangers. Often such individuals have a reduced ability for empathy, that is, empathy.

Getting rid of egoistic qualities is not easy: a person must make a conscious effort of will to take responsibility for the result of all his actions. He needs to lower the bar for others and force himself to respect their personal boundaries. For example, to recognize that refusals to requests are not a signal to break off relations, that people can defend those values ​​that are important to them. You can start with the following steps:

  1. Find inspiring stories from people who are known for their good deeds. Often they share on their social media pages how their own lives have changed thanks to altruism.
  2. Start practicing empathy. Do not distance yourself from others, but try to understand their problems and imagine yourself in their place. Think about what you can do to change this situation.
  3. To act for the good of one's neighbor. Consciously take small steps that can be pleasant or helpful to others. Start with compliments. Spanish researchers have found that this practice significantly improves the atmosphere in the work team.
  4. Expand the scope of good deeds. Think about who might need your help right now. It may not be easy for an elderly neighbor who recently had surgery to get out to the supermarket. Contact volunteer organizations in your area and ask what you can do. Even a short activity in this direction will help you develop the personality traits of a true altruist.

Why altruism is dangerous

Small good deeds do not require many resources and everyone can do it. They are simple to perform and at the same time create a ripple effect that brings happiness to both the one who receives the help and the one who gives it. The reactions taking place in the body at this time make us mutually happy.

Altruistic behavior improves mental and physical health, promotes the restoration of romantic relationships after cooling down or establishing a spirit of mutual assistance in the work team. Altruists have more social interactions, therefore, they have many acquaintances who are ready to help in difficult times, higher chances for career success and a kind of vaccine against loneliness.

The pros are quite obvious, but you can't do without the cons, says Alena Vanchenko: “Altruism involves internal attitudes that we are making the world a better place. But if we help people by sacrificing ourselves, this is already a masochistic story. Such behavior is rather a deviation. Most often, we sacrifice something valuable for the sake of an idea, and there is a certain form of inferiority of thinking in this. With altruism and sacrifice, it is important not to overdo it. As soon as they become destructive for the altruist himself, this is already a sign that you need to turn to a psychologist or psychotherapist.

Several negative effects of altruism can be cited as an example:

  1. An altruist is easy to manipulate. Such people take the experiences of others to heart and do not always distinguish cases when their kindness is used for selfish interests.
  2. Sometimes altruism turns into neglect of one's own interests. A person sacrifices his health, social or financial needs in order to devote all his time to caring for others.
  3. Altruistic behavior can be life-threatening when a person constantly risks themselves to save others (eg, during emergencies, natural disasters, fires, military operations).
  4. Inveterate altruists, whose priority is only helping others, can regress in those areas that are necessary for the harmonious development of the individual.

To avoid the side effects of altruism, you need to periodically ask yourself what tasks in the current life period are important to complete in order to take place as a person and not miss the right moment for their implementation.


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