Altruism: Definition, Theory, & Examples

By Tristan Williams, Ph.D.
Reviewed by Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.

What drives people to be good? Is there such a thing as pure selflessness, and if so, why? Learn about altruism, what it is and how to incorporate it into your life.

Altruism: Definition, Theory, & Examples

*This page may include affiliate links; that means we earn from qualifying purchases of products.

For the most part, we all try to be “good” people. We try to keep in touch with our friends and family and tend to look out for each other in the ways we can. Whether it be something as simple as helping an elderly person cross the road or as dramatic as trying to pull someone out of a car wreck, people have a habit of wanting to help one another.

However, we know that not all people are good or at least don’t make good choices all the time. So why do people perform great displays of compassion, kind-heartedness, and benevolence? Perhaps more importantly, what drives them to such acts – selflessness or other reasons motivated by darker self-interests?

In this article, we’ll dive into altruism, what it is, and how to incorporate it into your life.

Before reading on, if you're a therapist, coach, or wellness entrepreneur, be sure to grab our free Wellness Business Growth eBook to get expert tips and free resources that will help you grow your business exponentially.

Are You a Therapist, Coach, or Wellness Entrepreneur?

Grab Our Free eBook to Learn How to
Grow Your Wellness Business Exponentially!

✓ Save hundreds of hours of time ✓ Earn more $ faster
✓ Boost your credibility ✓ Deliver high-impact content

What Is Altruism? (A Definition)

So, what do we mean when we say altruism? The term “altruism” was popularized as the opposite of egoism by the French philosopher Auguste Comte (Etymology Dictionary). Altruisme, as it is called in French, was derived from the Latin alteri which means “somebody else” or “other people” (Ciciloni, 1825). This makes sense when we look at the definition of altruism—it is defined generally as the action of acting for the benefit of others—an unselfish concern for other people (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Basically, altruism is helping out others with no expectation to get anything out of it.

For me, when I hear altruism, I just think of the story that happened during my first year of college. It was raining and I had just gotten my first car and had my license for less than a year. Don’t worry, I didn’t crash or have an accident, but I did get my car stuck on the side of the road—I can still remember the sound of wheels straining in the mud. I never got the person’s name, but a kind-hearted stranger did stop and help push my car so I could get back onto the road. I remember him being slightly older than me, most likely another college student, and that he had left as abruptly as he had shown up. He helped me with little to no words and no obvious benefit to himself. He simply saw another student struggling with his car, and he helped. That’s altruism.

Altruism in general is people being helpful and kind with seemingly no outer motives. This seems very nice in theory, but what actually causes this?

All-Access Pass - Wellness PLR Content Collection

Altruism Theory

Where did altruism come from? Can people be naturally more kind-hearted than others? Luckily for us, we can look at what scientists and researchers have done to better understand this phenomenon.

In general, we can look at the theory behind altruism in three different categories: psychology, anthropology, and neurobiology.

The Psychology of Altruism
Psychological altruism is believed to be primarily related to the empathetic desire to help people who are suffering. People have studied altruism from a psychological perspective, trying to find out why a person acts without motives of self-interest.

Here are a few theories that psychologists have:

Evolution. For instance, psychologists have studied altruism from an evolutionary standpoint and have stated that we help relatives to continue our bloodlines (Sisco & Weber, 2019).
Environment. Other theories include that our early environment influences how we will be when we grow up. Altruism is a prosocial behavior – or behavior that helps and benefits other people (Eisenberg, 1982). If we model these prosocial behaviors in front of others, they in return are more likely to mirror it.

The Anthropology of Altruism
Altruism from an anthropological point of view is the moral notion that we help each other due to our inherent need for cooperation for social welfare (Cortes & Dweck, 2014). For example, when you give up your seat on a bus for an elderly person, you do so because it is in the interest of social and moral well-being.

The Neurobiology of Altruism
Other scientists try to see how altruism originates in our brains. Researchers have shown that our brains can actually develop in a certain way to be more altruistic than others (Klimecki et al., 2014). This approach is summarized in the video below by psychologist and neuroscientist Abigail Marsh.

This 2016 video reveals that more altruistic people have the following characteristics:

They are able to recognize fear easily in others.
They are able to better detect when someone is in danger.

This is due to the brain region called the amygdala (also known as the emotional center of our brain) that activates our expressions of fear and thus we can act to protect or help others who feel fear. We all have the hardware to help others but whether we develop it is another story.

Video: Why Some People Are More Altruistic Than Others

Opposite of Altruism

We know a lot about altruism now, but what about its opposite? Altruism, again, is the theory of being good to others for no personal benefit. The opposite then is what is known as the theory of universal egoism – the idea that people’s goals and motivations are done with only self-benefit in mind (Batson et al., 2020).

According to this theory, we behave in such a way to feel good about ourselves, get rewards or acknowledgment, or avoid bad feelings such as shame for our actions or inaction.

For example, we might find it normal to offer our friend a ride to go out to the movies. Under the idea of universal egoism, you wouldn’t offer because of harmless selflessness, but instead, you would be motivated because you don’t want to lose closeness with them, or perhaps you want something out of it in return.

In more dramatic stakes, you might perform heroic, life-saving acts not due to altruism but more in an attempt to escape the guilt of inaction and to be seen in a positive light by your peers.

In general, attributes that are the opposite of altruistic are the following:

Selfishness
Narcissism
Self-absorption
Greed

This theory, while it has some merit and research behind it from Batson et al. 2020, is a rather bleak view of the world.

Types of Altruism

Not all altruism is the same. Psychologists have split altruism into several different categories. These include the following:

Genetic altruism: It’s not unheard of that people are more likely to help those who are related to them. This type of altruism is defined as engaging in altruistic acts that benefit the family (Kay et al., 2019). An example would be how parents will often engage in acts of sacrifice to provide for their children.
Group-selected altruism: We as humans are naturally pack-oriented. This type of altruism relates to the idea that we are more likely to help people if they’re in a similar or the same group as us (Dawes et al., 1988). This could range from helping your community to volunteering at a club or a church you’re involved in.
Reciprocal altruism: Sometimes we know if we help people out, they’ll one day return the favor. This type of altruism is a give-and-take relationship (Apicella & Silk, 2019). For example, you may lend money to a friend if you know that they would lend money to you if you needed it.
Moral altruism: This is altruism where you help someone without any reward. Moral altruism, or pure altruism, is usually motivated by internalized core values (Taylor, 2019).

Well-Being PLR Courses - Grow Your Business Fast

Examples of Altruism

Whether you know it or not, you’ve probably engaged in small acts of altruism. Altruism, as we have spoken about, has a large range of actions. It can be as grand as saving a stranger from drowning or as small as lending five dollars to your friend to help cover lunch for the day.

Here are some examples of altruism:

Volunteering at an animal shelter
Giving to the homeless
Sharing your lunch
Donating food and clothes
Giving up your seat on the bus
Donating blood

Here are more generalized examples:

Helping someone with no expectation of a reward
Giving up your things to help others
Sharing resources even to your detriment
Overall showing concern for another’s well-being

Altogether, there are lots of examples of altruism that we see in our day-to-day life.

Altruism Benefits

Sure, it often feels good when we do good things for one another, but are there any advantages? Indeed, altruism can benefit us in a variety of ways:

Altruism can improve our health, such as by lowering blood pressure (Wang et al., 2019; Poulin at al., 2013).
Altruism can improve mental health, as doing good deeds to help others can make you feel happy (Aknin et al., 2015).
Altruism can improve relationships and social connections – being able to help and understand others can often bring peace of mind (Aknin et al., 2015).

We can see that performing acts of altruism can benefit the mind and body.

Altruism vs Empathy

One avenue that motivates altruism is empathy – or the ability to be able to put yourself in another’s shoes. We humans often experience the pain of others. This may motivate us to offer our time or help others. Researchers have actually found that when we see others in pain, we have mirror neurons (brain cells that activate when an action is performed as well as when it is only observed) that help us empathize with them (Rizzolatti & Sinigaglia, 2010).

For example, when we see children in distress in a TV commercial we may feel distressed for them. This may motivate us to donate. Empathy plays into altruism by motivating us through compassion and sympathy. Through this, we are able to understand other people's needs and feelings and then feel compelled to help them.

Altruism vs Hedonism

As altruism is self-sacrificing help for others, hedonism is the pursuit of self-indulgence (Brown, 2020). The Greek philosopher Epicurus defined hedonism as living a life of pleasure while also erasing bodily and mental pains (Cialdini & Kenrick, 1976).

Hedonism can be split into different classifications:

Normative Hedonism. This is the idea that pleasure should be everyone’s primary motivation.
Motivational Hedonism. This idea argues that people only make choices due to the motivation of either pain or pleasure.
Egotistical Hedonism. Similar to what we talked about earlier, this is the idea that someone only considers their own pleasure in making decisions.
Altruistic hedonism. This theory states that pleasure-seeking behavior is justified if it also helps other people.

In general, altruism is viewed as more virtuous when compared to hedonism. Altruism is closely tied with the concepts of kindness and social conscience while hedonism is stereotypically related to greed. When we try to be more altruistic, it’s important to keep in mind to try not to adopt traits related to hedonism.

Altruism vs Compassion

While compassion is typically thought of when the topic of altruism is brought up, there are subtle differences between the two. Compassion is the deep awareness of the suffering of others coupled with the wish to relieve it (DeSteno, 2015).

Knowing this, compassion is related to altruism in that altruism is the act and compassion is the feeling. We’re able to see someone in trouble and feel compassion for them. Through this compassion, we then engage in acts of altruism.

Well-Being PLR Article Packages - Grow Your Business Fast

Altruism vs Self Interest

Altruism is typically defined in stark contrast to self-interest. According to philosophers, being overly concerned for your own interests is seen as nonmoral (Badhwar, 1993).

However, people cannot expect you to never act out of self-interest. We are human and ultimately, we’re programmed to take care of ourselves. Thus, philosophers understand that it is morally permitted to act out of self-interest with limitations (Badhwar, 1993).

Acting out of self-interest is intrinsically not altruistic, but in itself is not naturally amoral. It’s important to maintain a balance, to remember to take care of yourself but not become overly self-serving.

How to Be More Altruistic

While some people have naturally altruistic tendencies, it can be a good thing to try to develop.

Here are some tips to help you be more altruistic:

Practicing empathy. Practicing empathy can help build social connections and aid with feelings of isolation. Try to put a face to the problems you see, consider how you would feel in that situation, and then think about what you could do to try to help make a difference.
Finding inspiration. There are altruistic people all around us. Through the use of the media or in your social circles, you can find inspiration. Whether it be from small acts or larger displays of heroics, we can all become inspired by others in our communities.
Set yourself goals. Start with something small – help with chores around the house or spend more time with people you care about. You can then advance your goals to volunteering at a shelter, retirement home, or somewhere else. Whether big or small, any steps toward altruism are positive progress.
Finally, make it habitual. It can be hard at first but making kindness the first response in your mind can benefit your overall outlook on life. Try to think about other altruistic acts you’ve engaged in and how they’ve helped someone. As with anything, practice makes perfect. As an example, it might help to attempt to do at least one random act of kindness a day.

Video: The Why And How Of Effective Altruism

List of Altruism Behaviors

Now that we learned a few ways to foster altruism, it may be helpful to know the behaviors associated with it.

Some of these behaviors include but are not limited to:

Helping
Comforting
Sharing
Cooperation
Philanthropy
Community service

Quotes on Altruism

You don’t have to take only my word on the benefits of altruism. Here are some quotes on altruism from people throughout history:

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Ultimately humanity is one, and this small planet is our only home. If we're to protect this home of ours, each of us needs to experience a vivid sense of universal altruism and compassion”. - Dalai Lama XIV
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.- Mahatma Gandhi
"Selflessness. It should be the basis of every relationship."- Colleen Hoover
"There is a growing movement called effective altruism. It's important because it combines both the heart and the head." - Peter Singer

Articles Related to Altruism

Want to learn more? Check out these articles:

Books Related to Altruism

If you’d like to keep learning more, here are a few books that you might be interested in.

Final Thoughts on Altruism

There is no one way to be altruistic – it can be anything from supporting our family to helping complete strangers. Or, it can be anything from helping someone cross the road to pulling someone out of a fire – these are all ways to help others with little to no self-benefit.

These are acts of kindness, compassion, and empathy that are part of what make the human species so distinct in the animal kingdom. In this modern era, it may be more important than ever to try and act selflessly. However, try not to overextend yourself. Instead, consider instilling the concepts of charity and selflessness into everyday actions.

We as a people need each other to thrive and we all go through problems at one point or another. Through altruism, we can derive value and meaning in our lives by strengthening our social bonds and our communities.

I find it fitting to end with the golden rule I was taught as a child – do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Don't Forget to Grab Our Free eBook to Learn How to
Grow Your Wellness Business Exponentially!

References

Aknin, L. B., Broesch, T., Hamlin, J. K., & Vondervoort, J. W. (2015). Prosocial behavior leads to happiness in a small-scale rural society. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 144(4), 788–795.
Apicella, C. L., & Silk, J. B. (2019). The evolution of human cooperation. Current biology: CB, 29(11), R447–R450.
Badhwar, N. (1993). Altruism Versus Self-Interest: Sometimes a False Dichotomy. Social Philosophy and Policy, 10(1), 90-117. doi:10.1017/S0265052500004039
Batson, C. D., Ahmad, N., & Lishner, D. A. (2020). Empathy and altruism. In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology (pp. 417–426). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Brown, g. (2020, July 14). Difference Between Altruism and Hedonism. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects.
Cialdini, R. B., & Kenrick, D. T. (1976). Altruism as hedonism: a social development perspective on the relationship of negative mood state and helping. Journal of personality and social psychology, 34(5), 907–914.
Ciciloni, F. (1825). A Grammar of the Italian Language. London: John Murray. p. 64
Cortes Barragan, R., & Dweck, C. S. (2014). Rethinking natural altruism: simple reciprocal interactions trigger children's benevolence. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111(48), 17071–17074.
Dawes, R. M., Kragt, A. J., & Orbell, J. M. (1988). Not me or thee, but we: The importance of group identity in eliciting cooperation in dilemma situations: Experimental manipulations. Acta Psychologica, 68(1–3), 83–97.
DeSteno, D. (2015). Compassion and altruism: How our minds determine who is worthy of help. Current opinion in behavioral sciences, 3, 80-83.
Eisenberg, N. (ed.) (1982). The Development of Prosocial Behavior. New York, NY: Academic Press.
Kay, T., Lehmann, L., & Keller, L. (2019). Kin selection and altruism. Current biology: CB, 29(11), R438–R442.
Klimecki, O. M., Leiberg, S., Ricard, M., & Singer, T. (2014). Differential pattern of functional brain plasticity after compassion and empathy training. Social cognitive and affective neuroscience, 9(6), 873–879.
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Altruism. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
Online Etymology Dictionary. (n.d) Altruism. Douglas Harper. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
Poulin, M. J., Brown, S. L., Dillard, A. J., & Smith, D. M. (2013). Giving to others and the association between stress and mortality. American journal of public health, 103(9), 1649–1655.
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2010). The functional role of the parieto-frontal mirror circuit: Interpretations and misinterpretations. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11, 264–274.
Sisco, M. R., & Weber, E. U. (2019). Examining charitable giving in real-world online donations. Nature communications, 10(1), 3968.
Taylor S. (2019). The puzzle of altruism: Why do 'selfish genes' behave so unselfishly?. Explore (New York, N.Y.), 15(5), 371–375.
Wang, Y., Ge, J., Zhang, H., Wang, H., & Xie, X. (2020). Altruistic behaviors relieve physical pain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117(2), 950–958.

Are You a Therapist, Coach, or Wellness Entrepreneur?

Grab Our Free eBook to Learn How to Grow Your Wellness Business Fast!

Key Articles:

Content Packages: