Altruism and Happiness: All You Need to Know

What possesses a healthy person to anonymously donate a kidney to a stranger? They will not be paid or rewarded. There will be no publicity. No public or even private praise. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Yet people do things like this. All the time. It would be amazing if these acts of generosity happened more frequently. But the fact that they happen at all is incredible. Read on for more about the astonishing nature of human altruism.

These behaviors are examples of altruism. Altruistic actions involve doing things that benefit another, without a benefit to us.

News stories often showcase grander examples. A man dives into an icy river to rescue someone who is drowning. A generous donor gives thousands to a local charity.

But everyday life is filled with small acts of altruism.

And if we look around with intention, we will notice them often.

Someone holding the door for a stranger. Another lining up to donate blood.

It begs the question, why are we inclined to do things to benefit others? And why is it so important that we continue to do so?

What Is Altruism?

Definitions for altruism include:

1. The “unselfish concern for other people—doing things simply out of a desire to help, not because you feel obligated to out of duty, loyalty, or religious reasons.”
2. “Acting out of concern for another’s well-being. Often, people behave altruistically when they see others in desperate circumstances and feel empathy or a desire to help.”

In some cases, acts of altruism can even lead us to jeopardize our own health and well-being – all for the benefit of another.

There are several kinds of altruism.

• When someone behaves altruistically in the moment it is known as “impulsive altruism”. Running into a burning building to save a person. Leaping in front of a bullet to save another. These are acts carried out with little or no thinking or reasoning.
• When a person makes a conscious decision to act altruistically, with no expectation of a benefit in return, it is called “considered altruism”. Charity work, volunteering with disaster relief, or donating a kidney, are examples.
• A third type of altruism is “reciprocal altruism”. This is when we perform an altruistic act with the expectation that we will gain something in return. (I don’t see this as true altruism, but the experts disagree).

Why Does Altruism Exist?

What inspires us to give our time, energy, and money for the betterment of others? Even when we will receive nothing tangible in return?

Psychologists suggest these possible explanations:

• A biological drive. For example, we may be inclined to help others in our family to help our genes survive.
• To seek pleasure. We may engage in altruism because it makes us feel good. Literally. Pleasure centers in our brains react when we engage in altruistic acts.
• Peer pressure. We are, in fact, more likely to act altruistically if we see others doing it.
• To return a favor. In some cases, we feel pressured to act altruistically if others are kind to us.
• To stoke our own self-worth. When we are altruistic, we feel better about ourselves as people.
• To satisfy our own empathetic urges. Those people who are more inclined to feel empathy are often more motivated to perform altruistic acts.
• To ease negative emotions. When we perform altruistic acts it can help our mood, and provide relief from negative feelings we may be experiencing.

Cultivating Altruism

Whatever the reason we perform them, acts of altruism result in many benefits.

They benefit the person who performs them and the recipient of the act.

But beyond that, they benefit every bystander who witnesses or has knowledge of the act being performed.

Behaving altruistically creates a win/win/win dynamic.

One that we ought to be more inclined to reward and cultivate.

All that goodness deserves a shout out, don’t you think?

So next time we see someone behaving in a generous, altruistic way, let’s reward them for it.

Words of praise are effective, but not necessary. A smile will do. Or any acknowledgement to demonstrate that we saw what was done, and we recognize the kindness in the gesture.

Call to Action

We don’t have to wait for spectacular acts to spread the warmth and kindness.

Next time we see someone give up their seat on the bus or train. Or when someone lets us merge into traffic.

Maybe it’s as simple as someone helping another reach something on a shelf at the store. Or letting someone go ahead of them in line.

The key is that we recognize it. And reward it. Cultivate it. And then replicate it. For every altruistic act we see, let’s commit to performing two or more.

Let’s seek opportunities to demonstrate kindness, support, and generosity to each other, every chance we get.

Because the world needs more goodness. More kindness.

“To perform an act out of the unselfish concern for other people.” What better motive could there be?

Want to read another fascinating post? Check this one out: Why We Cry and Why Its Good for Us.

Thank you as always for reading.

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Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Her career includes 20+ years as a private sector corporate executive and 15 years (and counting) as a consultant and coach. The common thread through her professional life has been a commitment to compassionate leadership, including leading and mentoring current and future leaders, and women from all walks of life. KindCompassCoach articles are backed by research and include facts and advice from a wide variety of experts. Joan is a member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me.