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Some days, it feels like the world is losing its humanity.
Selfishness dominates headlines. People rush past each other, too busy to care. Compassion seems like a forgotten language.
However, there is a quiet power that can still change lives—altruism.
Let’s explore what is altruism, why it matters, and how it brings hope to our world.
Altruism is the act of helping others purely out of care and concern, without expecting anything in return. It’s about doing good simply because it feels right, not because of duty, loyalty, or religious obligation.
“Altruism often arises from a personal sense of compassion or duty,”
Dr. Jessica Myszak, a psychologist in Glenview, Illinois
According to Dr. Jessica, Altruism can be a powerful force for good in the world. It may include things like donating anonymously, volunteering your time, or offering support to someone in need.
This selfless behavior is often guided by empathy—the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Helping others improves lives, and one of the greatest benefits of helping others is the inner peace and joy it brings to the giver.
If you know about the Golden Rule, karma, or loving your neighbor, you already understand the idea of altruism. It’s a simple yet powerful way of building kindness and connection in the world.
Psychologists have identified various types of altruism, based on the reasons people help and the recipients of their assistance.
These include:
This type centers on helping close relatives. Individuals often go out of their way to support family members, sometimes making personal sacrifices. For instance, parents may work long hours or give up personal comforts to ensure their children’s well-being. The motivation stems from a natural bond and a desire to protect and support those who share our genes.
This form is built on the idea of mutual benefit. A person helps someone with the understanding that the kindness may be returned in the future. While the immediate act is generous, there's a hope, though not a guarantee, of future support when needed.
Here, people act out of a sense of belonging to a group. They offer help to others who share similar social, cultural, or religious backgrounds or who are part of a common cause. This kind of altruism often drives support for group-related charities or community initiatives.
This is considered the most selfless type of altruism. It involves helping others without expecting any reward or recognition, even in risky or challenging situations. These actions come from strong personal morals and values, where doing what’s right is more important than getting something for yourself.
Many of us recognize altruism when we see it. However, social psychologists have long been interested in exploring why people engage in such selfless behavior. What drives someone to perform acts of kindness? What motivates an individual to risk their safety to help a stranger?
Altruism is part of a bigger group called prosocial behavior. This includes any action meant to help others, no matter the reason or if the person benefits. It's important to note that while all altruistic actions are prosocial, not every prosocial act is purely altruistic.
Sometimes people help others because they feel guilty or responsible. Other times, they do it out of obligation or hoping for a reward. Although the exact reasons behind altruism are still debated, psychologists have proposed several possible explanations:
Some researchers believe that certain people might be born with a stronger instinct to help others. This idea suggests that genetics may influence altruistic behavior.
A popular idea in evolution called kin selection says people are more likely to help close family members. The reasoning is that helping family members improves the chances of passing shared genes to the next generation. The closer the genetic relationship, the higher the likelihood of altruistic actions.
Traits such as empathy, cooperation, and altruism may be inherited from our parents. This means that biology could partly shape these behaviors.
Scientific studies have shown that altruism stimulates the brain’s reward system. When someone acts kindly, their brain’s pleasure centers light up, creating feelings of joy and satisfaction.
Neurobiological research shows that when people perform compassionate acts, certain areas of the brain linked to reward become active. These positive emotions help encourage and strengthen the behavior. These "feel-good" effects may encourage people to act altruistically more often.
Our surroundings and social work experiences play a major role in shaping altruistic tendencies. From a young age, children watch and learn from the people around them. This helps shape how willing they are to help others.
Research has found that children as young as three expect others to return favors or acts of kindness. Before that age, they tend to share without expecting anything back. By the age of five, children begin to use these reciprocal exchanges more intentionally.
Showing kindness and helping others teaches children to be compassionate and generous through example. Adults are also influenced by what they observe. Seeing others help can encourage us to do the same, but it depends on our personality, culture, and situation.
Social rules and expectations also shape whether people choose to act altruistically. One such norm is the norm of reciprocity, which suggests that people feel a social obligation to return favors.
For example, if a friend once paid for your lunch, you might feel a strong urge to help them out financially when they’re in need. This internal sense of duty is often reinforced by societal expectations and shared values.
Altruism means helping others without expecting a reward. But sometimes, people are motivated by inner feelings or emotions.
One reason people help others is the empathy-altruism idea. It means we’re more likely to help someone when we truly feel their pain. As children grow and develop empathy, their tendency to behave altruistically also increases.
Another idea is the negative-state relief model, which says seeing someone suffer can make us feel upset or uneasy. Helping the person in need may then serve to reduce these negative feelings, leading to emotional relief.
Acts of altruism are all around us in daily life. Whether it's opening the door for someone or helping them with money, these acts show kindness without wanting anything back.
The media often highlights big acts, like someone jumping into a freezing river to save a life. But altruism isn’t limited to such dramatic actions—it can be found in everyday kindness too. In reality, many acts of kindness are simple, everyday actions like charitable acts aimed at supporting others.
Examples of altruistic behavior include:
Pakistan Sweet Home is a remarkable example of an orphan care foundation built on altruism. It offers orphaned children shelter, education, and love.
This foundation gives without asking for anything in return. Every meal served, lesson taught, or hug shared there reflects pure kindness. It shows how selfless giving can change lives and shape a hopeful future.
Altruism can have some downsides if overdone, but when balanced, it helps both you and others.
Altruistic behavior offers a range of advantages, including:
Engaging in altruistic actions can contribute to better overall physical well-being. Research shows that individuals who regularly volunteer or help others tend to enjoy better general health. Consistent involvement in prosocial activities is associated with significantly reduced mortality rates.
Acts of kindness don’t just benefit others—they also uplift the one performing them. Doing good for others can boost your mood, increase feelings of satisfaction, and enhance your overall outlook on life. Studies have shown that people tend to feel happier after performing selfless acts or helping someone in need.
Altruism can also strengthen personal relationships, especially romantic ones. People everywhere value kindness and compassion in a partner.
When you show care and empathy, it helps build stronger and happier relationships. Being altruistic helps build trust, emotional intimacy, and mutual respect in relationships.
While some individuals may naturally display altruistic traits, it is also possible to cultivate these qualities within yourself and those around you.
Here are a few strategies that can help encourage selfless behavior:
Surround yourself with stories and examples of individuals who dedicate their time and energy to helping others. Witnessing acts of kindness and generosity can serve as a powerful motivator to adopt similar actions in your own life.
Instead of staying detached from the challenges others face, work on building emotional connections. Try to understand their feelings and imagine yourself in their situation. This empathetic approach can help you discover meaningful ways to offer support and bring about positive change.
Make it a personal mission to carry out regular acts of kindness. Stay aware of those around you who might need a hand, or look for opportunities to serve your community. Whether it’s preparing a meal for someone who is struggling, helping a neighbor, donating blood, or volunteering your time, every little action counts. Small, consistent efforts can create a big impact.
Keep compassion at the center of your daily life. Reflect on the good deeds you've done, think about the difference they might have made, and plan ways to continue spreading kindness. Aim to perform at least one thoughtful act each day, and take a moment to consider its significance.
In conclusion, understanding what is altruism goes beyond defining it as a kind gesture. It reflects the depth of human empathy and compassion. From parents sacrificing for children to strangers helping in need, selfless acts hold real power.
Different types, like genetic and moral altruism, show that the motivation may vary, but the heart stays the same. Its causes lie in evolution, brain chemistry, environment, and social influence, shaping why we care and act.
Even small real-life examples remind us that kindness doesn’t need to be grand to matter. The benefits are clear: improved health, happier minds, and deeper relationships for both givers and receivers. And by fostering altruism, we can raise a generation that sees kindness as second nature.
Let’s not just learn it — let’s live it.
Altruism is generally considered good because it promotes kindness, compassion, and selfless concern for others. However, extreme or self-harming altruism can be unhealthy if it neglects one’s own needs.
An altruistic person is someone who helps others without expecting anything in return. Their actions are motivated by empathy, compassion, and a desire to improve others' well-being.
In biology, altruism refers to behaviors that reduce an individual's survival chances but increase the survival of others, especially relatives. It supports the theory of kin selection and gene preservation.
In psychology, altruism means helping others because you truly want to make them feel better, not to get something for yourself. The focus is on the internal motivation behind the action.
For example, if someone stops to help a stranger with a flat tire purely out of concern, it’s considered altruistic. But if they do it to look good in front of others, it reflects egoism. Psychologists study this difference to understand what truly drives human kindness—and whether our helping behavior is always as selfless as it seems.
Effective altruism is a philosophy and movement focused on using reason and evidence to do the most good. It encourages donating time or money where it will have the greatest impact.
In social psychology, altruism is seen as a behavior that benefits others without personal gain, often influenced by social norms, empathy, and moral values.
Altruism refers to actions driven by a genuine desire to improve someone else's well-being, without expecting anything in return. On the other hand, egoism involves helping others mainly for personal benefit or self-interest (Batson, Ahmad, & Lishner, 2020).
Example:
If a person stops to assist someone with a flat tire:
The key difference lies in why the action is taken—whether it's out of true care for others or personal gain.
Many everyday actions like giving to charity, comforting others, or visiting the sick seem kind. But people still wonder: are these always done without expecting anything in return?
Not everyone thinks so.
The term “altruism” was coined by French philosopher Auguste Comte in the 19th century. He used it to describe selfless concern for the welfare of others.
Prosocial behavior is any action intended to benefit others, whether motivated by reward or empathy. Altruism is a type of prosocial behavior driven purely by selflessness, without personal gain.
WRITTEN BY
Dr. Ayesha Khan (Community Development)
Dr. Ayesha Khan is a dedicated social worker with over 15 years of experience in child welfare and community development. As a passionate advocate for vulnerable children, she has worked tirelessly to create safe and nurturing environments for orphans and underprivileged youth. Dr. Khan holds a PhD in Social Work and has specialized in developing sustainable programs that support the holistic development of children. Through her work at Pakistan Sweet Home, she aims to raise awareness and inspire action through her insightful and compassionate writing.
Dr. Ayesha Khan is a dedicated social worker with over 15 years of experience in child welfare and community development. As a passionate advocate for vulnerable children, she has worked tirelessly to create safe and nurturing environments for orphans and underprivileged youth. Dr. Khan holds a PhD in Social Work and has specialized in developing sustainable programs that support the holistic development of children. Through her work at Pakistan Sweet Home, she aims to raise awareness and inspire action through her insightful and compassionate writing.
