talking2myself

Altruism, is it always selfless?

A news story this morning caught my attention.  It was about the fact that bonobos, one of our closest primate relatives, prefer to share their food rather than eat alone.

“Dr Hare said it could be purely altruistic, or more selfish motives could drive this behaviour because sharing could be exchanged for future favours. The researchers hope this work could also shed light on what drives humans to voluntarily share.”  See more of the story at BBC News – Bonobos opt to share their food.

If you are one of the people who subscribe to self help books, CDs DVDs and other resources, you will recognise the advise to be altruistic as one of the required attributes of success and happiness.  This is on the basis that what you give away will be come back in multitudes.  Some gurus would claim that is the way of nature.  Thinking about it though would suggest that all altruism is somewhat selfish even if it is just the ‘feeling good’ factor that makes a person do it.

One thing is for sure and that is that altruism has evolved for one of many reasons and it may be wise to practise it often, after all, if it makes you feel good then it contributes greatly to your contentment.

May you find the balance.