Why are we altruistic?
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There is more into doing good than you might think. Whether it’s from a philanthropic spark of the moment that you decide to donate to a local charity, or from volunteering for those less fortunate, the truth is that the undercurrent of altruism has been running through you since birth.
When does it start?
Altruism, a foundation for doing good, is the motivational intent of increasing the welfare of others, even if it can be at the consequence of your own. According to a study by Megan M. Filkowski, Ph.D. and others, signs of altruistic intent have been noted in infants as young as 14-18 months through behaviours such as helping other infants grasp out-of-reach objects or opening cabinet doors, with no adult encouragement or supervision. Other minor acts of kindness fall under the scale of altruism, such as offering your seat to an elderly individual on the bus or holding the door open for others – acts which hold no particular benefit or reward to you. Despite this lack of reward o...
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