The Reality of Altruism

Altruism is a somewhat magical concept that we desperately believe to be true. Yet, with the natural tendencies of humanity as an entity, and the deliberation of cruel behavior that is witnessed throughout the world, it is difficult to assume altruism is a reality if not on the verge of extinction. I propose that altruism does indeed exist and that it must be nurtured to survive.

As defined in our text, altruism is "a motive to increase another’s welfare without conscious regard for one’s self-interests (Myers, 2005, pg. 476)". In other words, it is an elevated level of helping that merits true honor. Perhaps the survival of the species depends on this concept that random acts of kindness can and will be done despite the unfortunate circumstance that it is a rare occurrence or that it is seldom put into action. Nevertheless, we must rely on the fact that it does show up in life. And when it does, it lights up our belief system in such a way that it multiplies courage and perpetuates altruism to spread in generous ways.

So how do we know when altruism is genuine rather than a façade? When celebrities donate to causes or exert themselves in humanitarian endeavors, is it just for publicity or is it truly for the cause without any care for how they are perceived in doing such acts? It seems that faith is the only way to truly discern the existence of altruism, and if it really is not evident, at least good deeds are being tended to.

In a world in which we are all guilty of acting upon reward and doing only what promotes personal success or gratification, it is refreshing to have such a concept as altruism alive in the study of psychology. I submit that this is not merely a myth or a fantastical proposition, but that altruism is in fact a part of humanity whether it is uncovered or not. It seems that it must be pruned and cared for so that when it occurs, it will be embraced more readily and cherished as a privilege of being a part of the human race.

References

Myers, D. (2005) Social Psychology (8th edition). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.