Do individuals care more about themselves than others? An analysis of the concept of altruism

Running head: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Social Psychology
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1SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
“It is far better to endure patiently a smart which nobody feels but yourself,
than to commit a hasty action whose evil consequences will extend to all
connected with you.”
The above quoted lines of the famous British author Charlotte Brontë from her novel
“Jane Eyre” gives a pertinent insight into the concept of altruism. The term altruism can be
defined as the “principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others” (Boorman and
Levitt 2012). Therefore, this concept is often called by the name of “selflessness” (Boorman
and Levitt 2012). It is interesting to note that term was originally coined by “Auguste
Comte”, a French philosopher as an “antonym of egoism” (DellaVigna, List and Malmendier
2012). The concept of altruism has been a topic of much discussion in the present times and it
would be fair to say that the concept has undergone much transformation in the present times
(DellaVigna, List and Malmendier 2012). It is significant to note that in the present world of
individualism where the primary focus of the people is on the achievement of the personal
goals as well as objectives the concept of altruism has somewhat lost its earlier sheen
(Saroglou 2013). This paper intends to analyze whether the individuals care more about
themselves than they care about the other people.
In the opinion of Jack Kerouac articulated in his famous book “The Portable Jack
Kerouac” “Practice kindness all day to everybody and you will realize you’re already in
heaven now”. It is significant to note that in most of the religions of the world and
philosophies the concept of altruism finds an important place (Saroglou 2013). In the opinion
of many people there is an inherent desire in all the human beings to do go or an act which is
likely to bring about a certain amount of significant change in the lives of the other
individuals (Wilson 2015). This inherent desire of the individuals to do a certain amount of
good or welfare for others finds a pertinent reflection in the various precepts of “The
empathy-altruism theory” of Batson which was propounded by him in the year 1981

2SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
(Wilson 2015). According to this particular theory, “some helpful actions are truly altruistic
because they are motivated by the genuine desire to increase another’s welfare” (Wilson
2015). Moreover, this particular theory also takes into consideration the emotions involved in
the process as well as the situation in which the person is involved and these two factors
determine the fact whether the person is going to do the altruistic activity or not (Wilson
2015). Batson considers the concept of empathy as one of the major factors which influences
the person concerned to do the deed that is likely to benefit another person (Boehm 2012).
Therefore he says that “Observing another person’s situation may either produce empathic
concern (i.e. positive emotions like sympathy or compassion) or personal distress (i.e.
negative emotions)” and it is to relieve this particular situation of the other person that the
individual indulges in the act (Wilson 2015). The “Kin Selection Theory” of Hamilton
propounded in the year 1983, on the other hand, states that the individuals are more likely to
help others who are directly in relation to them like their family or immediate kin members
(Batson et al. 2016). Therefore, it can be said that as per the precepts of this particular theory
the individuals care more about themselves as well as their near relatives or kin than the other
people who are not related to them directly (Batson et al. 2016).
The article “Person-Oriented Conception of Happiness: Between Freud, Jung and
Maslow” written by Levit and published in the journal “International Journal of Economy,
Management and Social Sciences” in the year 2013 offers an overview of the concept of
altruism and the opinion of the famous personnels like Freud, Jung and Maslow on this
particular topic. In the opinion of the psychologist Sigmund Freud there is an inherent motive
behind all the activities of the human beings and they normally indulge in the various
altruistic for the satisfaction of their “id” as well as “ego” (Levit 2013). Thus, in the opinion
of Freud there is an inherent motive behind all the good deeds done by the individuals. The
psychologist Carl Jung, on the other hand, takes the views articulated by Freud a step further