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ALTRUISM
DOES NOT
DEPEND ON THE
OUTCOME
ALTRUISM
IS ABOUT
YOUR
MOTIVE
AND
SELF-SACRIFICE
ACTION:
ACTION:
SELF-INTEREST MOTIVE
& NO SELF-SACRIFICE
ALTRUISTIC MOTIVE
& SELF-SACRIFICE
PEAR VALUES PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND MATERIAL WEALTH (MOTIVE) SO HE CREATES A BUSINESS TO HELP RETURN LOST WALLETS TO THEIR OWNERS. HE CHARGES A FEE FOR THE SERVICE AND MAY FEEL ENTITLED TO THE CASH THAT "FALLS" OUT OF THE WALLETS. PEAR GETS VOLUNTEERS TO RUN HIS BUSINESS, WHICH ALLOWS HIM TO AVOID SACRIFICING ANY OF HIS OWN RESOURCES.
APPLE VALUES BENEVOLENCE AND COMPASSION (MOTIVE) SO SHE CREATES A PROGRAM TO HELP RETURN LOST WALLETS TO THEIR OWNERS. SHE COMPLETES THIS SERVICE FREE OF CHARGE AND ANONYMOUSLY. HAS NO EXPECTATiON OF REWARD OR RECOGNITION. APPLE SACRIFICES HER LIMITED TIME AND RESOURCES TO RUN THIS PROGRAM.
LEMON NOTICES THAT SOMEONE'S WALLET HAS BEEN LEFT ON A BENCH (ACCIDENTAL/REACTIONARY). SINCE LEMON VALUES PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND MATERIAL WEALTH (MOTIVE) SHE PICKS UP THE LOST WALLET TO RETURN IT. SHE NOTICES A LOT OF CASH IN THE WALLET AND EXPECTS A REWARD FOR RETURNING IT. "MAYBE I WILL BE FEATURED IN THE NEWSPAPER", SHE THINKS. THE OWNER IS REALLY OUT OF HER WAY, BUT SHE IS DETERMINED TO DELIVER IT.
ORANGE NOTICES THAT SOMEONE HAS LEFT THEIR WALLET ON A BENCH. SINCE ORANGE VALUES BENEVOLENCE AND COMPASSION (MOTIVE) HE PICKS UP THE WALLET TO RETURN IT ANONYMOUSLY. ORANGE DOES NOT EXPECT A REWARD OR RECOGNITION BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT MOTIVATES HIS HELPING BEHAVIOUR. THE WALLET OWNER LIVES IN THE SAME BUILDING AS ORANGE, WHICH MAKES RETURNING THE WALLET MUCH EASIER.
ALTRUISTIC MOTIVE
& NO SELF-SACRIFICE
ACTION:
SELF INTEREST MOTIVE
& SELF-SACRIFICE
ACTION:
THE AMOUNT OF
SELF-SACRIFICE
WILL ALSO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHERE THE ACTION IS PLACED ON THE ALTRUISM SPECTRUM.
SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL SACRIFICE
NO
PERSONAL SACRIFICE
0
5
10
ROBI IS A ROBOT BUILT TO PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE MONEY TO THOSE IN NEED. ROBI'S SUPPLY IS LIMITLESS AND TO GIVE MONEY AWAY DOES NOT REQUIRE MUCH EFFORT OR SACRIFICE.
TOMI IS A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE AT A FAST FOOD CHAIN. TOMI BARELY MAKES ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY RENT BUT HE STILL DECIDES TO HELP TO THOSE IN NEED, SACRIFICING HIS FREE TIME AND MONEY.
HOW DOES IT ALL WORK?
VALUES
BELIEFS
ATTITUDES
VALUES, BELIEFS, AND ATTITUDES ARE INTERNAL TO EACH PERSON AND ARE LEARNED AND FORMED WHILE GROWING UP.
CREATES
​
ALTRUISTIC
OR
SELFISH
MOTIVE
YOUR MOTIVE TO ACT A CERTAIN WAY IS INFLUENCED BY YOUR VALUE, BELIEFS, AND ATTITUDES.
ASSESSMENT OF SELF-SACRIFICE
ALTRUISTIC OR SELFISH
ACTION / BEHAVIOUR
​
AFTER ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF SELF-SACRIFICE TO ACT YOU WILL EITHER BEHAVE ALTRUISTICALLY OR SELFISHLY
* NOTE: JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A MOTIVE DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN YOU WILL BEHAVE IN LINE WITH YOUR MOTIVE OR EVEN DECIDE TO ACT AT ALL. OTHER INFLUENCES LIKE SELF-ESTEEM, PEER-PRESSURE, OR PERSONALITY CAN ALSO IMPACT YOUR BEHAVIOUR.
THE WORLD IS SHITE, AND SO ARE ITS PEOPLE. CAN'T DO ANYTHING BOUT' ER', ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY, NO USE TRYING TO CHANGE.
SALTY SEA-MAN &
THE CYNICS
ACTUALLY, SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING, ALTRUISM CANNOT EXIST. PEOPLE THAT HELP OTHERS RECEIVE A DOPAMINE RELEASE WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH LIKE CRACK. ALTRUISTS ARE PRETTY MUCH CRACK ADDICTS.
ACTUALLY, THERE IS NO EVOLUTIONARY MECHANISM THAT WOULD FAVOUR ALTRUISM IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
SO, EVERY ACTION IS GROUNDED IN THE SELF-PRESERVATION AND CONTINUITY OF YOUR GENES.
ACTUALLY, IT'S ME AGAINST THE WORLD. I ONLY LOOK OUT FOR ME & MY OWN INTERESTS. CAPITALISM CAN'T BE WRONG. IF I HAD TO RELY ON OTHERS TO HELP ME I WOULD BE WEAK. ALTRUISTS ARE PROBABLY COMMUNISTS...
ACTUALLY, I DON'T TRUST ANYONE. EVERYBODY HAS AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE, I BET THIS "KIND" PERSON WANTS SOMETHING FROM ME, MAYBE THEY WANT TO FOLLOW ME HOME?! NOTHING IN THIS WORLD IS FOR FREE, THAT WAS MY GRANNY'S MOTTO.
THE COMMENTS (MADE BY REAL PEOPLE I HAVE CHATTED WITH) ARE VALID TO THEM AND ARE A REFLECTION OF THEIR VALUES/ BELIEFS/ ATTITUDES. SOME CONTEND WITH THE SEMANTICS, THEORY, CULTURAL NORMS, OR PERSONAL OUTLOOK ON ALTRUISM.
​
HOWEVER, AS WITH MOST CRITICS, THEY OFTEN DO NOT PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE OR BETTER SOLUTION. I WILL CONCLUDE, AS I ALWAYS DO WITH CYNICS, BY ASKING A QUESTION:
​
EVEN IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT EXISTS, WOULD THE WORLD BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT PEOPLE ACTING ALTRUISTICALLY?
We'd love to hear from you
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