Many are wondering: "What is altruism?". A truly altruistic act should not be motivated by the desire for some personal gain, whether in the short or long term. It cannot be a desire to brag or receive a token of gratitude. Fear of being criticized for not helping others should also not motivate altruism.
Altruism: the origin of the term
Altruism is when we act for the benefit of other people, even putting ourselves at risk. The philosopher Auguste Comte coined the word in 1851. It meant self-sacrifice for the good of others. In a few years, the word entered many languages. Many believe that people are primarily interested in their well-being.
Studies show otherwise:
- people's first impulse is cooperation, not competition;
- babies spontaneously help people in need;
- even non-human primates show altruism.
This phenomenon has deeproots. Help and cooperation contribute to survival. Darwin himself claimed that altruism, which he called sympathy, or benevolence, is "an integral part of the social instincts." His claim is supported by the fact that when people behave altruistically, their brains are activated in areas that convey pleasure, similar to when they eat chocolate. This does not mean that people are more altruistic than selfish. Man has deeply rooted tendencies to act in any direction. The task of society is to find ways to apply the best qualities that nature has given.
Synonyms and antonyms
Altruists prefer to share their well-being with others, so they are happy when others prosper. Let's try to better understand what altruism is. What does that require? It is worth familiarizing yourself with words with a similar meaning.
Synonyms for altruism:
- self-sacrifice;
- compassion;
- generosity;
- friendliness;
- humanity;
- benevolence;
- kindness;
- sympathy;
- mercy;
- indulgence;
- generosity;
- kindness;
- beneficence.
Antonyms of altruism:
- meanness;
- greed;
- egocentrism;
- greed;
- cruelty;
- narcissism;
- vanity;
- selfishness.
Altruism is its own reward. Positive relationship withother people have always been a more natural norm of behavior than delusions about money or power over others. It is important to understand altruism correctly. Not all people interpret the meaning of the word correctly.
Does it really exist?
He puzzles evolutionary biologists, who wonder why anyone can help someone to their own detriment. Selfless behavior cannot be sustainable, because it often leads to the fact that a person becomes more vulnerable. Social psychologists also take a more cynical position, believing that mutual assistance is motivated by the need to relieve one's own stress. This is similar to selfishness: the tendency to value things only within the limits of self-interest.
The numbers don't lie
But how can one explain the wonderful acts of kindness and selflessness that are performed for the benefit of other people? In 2012, there were $228.93 billion in charitable donations from individuals in the United States (National Center for Charitable Statistics, 2012). People not only give money, but also spend their time. There are currently hundreds of millions of registered volunteers helping others. There are countless acts of kindness and generosity that occur daily.
Altruism or magic?
The practice of altruism enhances personal well-being - emotionally, physically, and perhaps even financially.
The positive impact of altruism:
- Altruism makes people happy: people feel more cheerful after doing goodfor an outsider. Charity activates areas of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust. This is a good incentive to be kinder.
- Altruism helps you stay he althy. Volunteers, as a rule, are more physically strong, less likely to have depression. Older people who regularly help friends or relatives are significantly less likely to die soon. Researcher Steven Post reports that altruism even improves the he alth of people with chronic diseases such as HIV and multiple sclerosis.
- Altruists can reap unexpected financial benefits from their kindness because others will reward them for their help. Animals that cooperate with each other are more productive and survive better.
- Altruism promotes social bonding. When people do good to others, they feel closer to them, and so does the other side.
- Altruism is good for education. When students participate in "cooperative learning" where they must work together to complete a project, they are more likely to have positive relationships with each other and improve mental he alth. Teenagers who volunteer to help young children may reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Altruism is "contagious" because it encourages people to be generous. It is also important for a stable and strong society, for the well-being of the human species as a whole. Everyone should understand what altruism is and how it can help him.
What makes a person altruistic?
Altruism may well be somewhat heritable, as it is a trait of character. However, the empathy that drives this action plays a major role. In addition to empathy and heredity, the presence of a prosocial personality, an advanced level of moral development also contributes to altruism. This suggests that altruism is not necessarily a stable character trait, as the current mood can also play a role. It has been found that people in a good mood are more willing to help others. This may be because they are less likely to stop and think things over before deciding to collaborate. Altruism is present in any culture; without it, the successful existence of the nation is impossible.
Can everyone become altruists?
Altruism is laid from the first year of life, when children show mutual assistance and cooperation, which they are not taught. However, at around the age of five, social relationships come into play. Since future agreeableness and prosocial behavior can be predicted during childhood and adolescence, parents may wish to develop high moral standards, have clear rules, and expect their children to help others. Empathy can be nurtured in children by encouraging them to think about the impact of their behavior. Every child needs to be explained already in childhood what altruism is. Even adults are never too late to be more altruistic. Ultimately, it is our own choice. As Martin Luther King once said, "Each person must decide whether to walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."
Examples of altruism in dolphins
Pay attention. On the example of animals, we can also consider what altruism is. They, like people, show this quality. The most striking example of altruism in animals are dolphins helping people. In 2008, one of them came to the rescue of two whales in New Zealand and brought them to safe waters. Without the participation of dolphins, they would surely have died. In another case in New Zealand, a group of swimmers were surprised to see dolphins circling around them harder and harder… Initially, swimmers thought they were showing aggressive behavior, but it turned out that this is how dolphins drive away sharks.
Birds and insects
Birds and insects also know the word " altruism". For example, we can recall the cuckoo. She lays her egg in the nest of a bird of another species with similar eggs. The new mistress then takes care of the foundling as if it were her true offspring. There is an opinion that this happens because other birds cannot distinguish other people's eggs. The cuckoos periodically return to the nests where they left the foundling to see if all is well. If their future chicks are still there, they leave the nests intact. If not, the cuckoos destroy them along with the eggs. So caring for the cuckoo's offspring may just be a means for the host bird to protect its offspring. Bees use their sting toenemies if they believe the hive is in danger. After the sting, the bee dies. This is an example of altruistic behavior in social colonies.
People
Most people have some shade of altruism. Examples might be a parent who gives up their well-being for a child, or a soldier who risks his life for other people. Some psychologists even argue that the altruistic tendency is built into people naturally. Most examples of altruism are related to kinship. Although people do help strangers, they are more likely to give money to relatives. In addition, adopted children receive, on average, a smaller share of inheritances than biological heirs.
To understand what altruism means, just look around. Everyday life is filled with small acts of charity and mutual aid, from the guy at the grocery store who graciously holds the door open to the person who gives a donation to a beggar. There are grander examples of altruism in the news. For example, a person who dives into an icy river to save a drowning stranger, or a generous philanthropist who donates thousands of dollars to charity.
What inspires altruists?
Altruism is one example of what psychologists call prosocial behavior. These are any actions that benefit other people, no matter what the motive, orhow the recipient benefits from the action. But pure altruism includes true selflessness. Altruists may be inspired by biological causes. They perform altruistic acts to help procreate. Social norms and rules that call for helping others can incline to charity. Some people are driven to altruism by empathy with outsiders. Psychologists differ on the existence of pure altruism. Some of them believe that it exists, while others argue that any self-sacrifice is based on the desire to help oneself.
