Abstract
This paper discusses the nature of altruism and argues that altruism is comparable to a human emotion and that the urge to satisfy or act upon it is undertaken with some form of benefit expected. The paper's premise is that rather than characterizing altruism as genuine or not genuine based upon whether an act has the expectation of a benefit, it should be taken as a rule that all human endeavors are undertaken with some form of benefit in mind and that this is okay. The paper believes that the characterization of genuine or non-genuine, sincere or insincere must be awarded based upon the type of expected benefit.

From the Paper
"This essay discusses the nature of altruism. It is argued that altruism is comparable to a human emotion and that the urge to satisfy or act upon it is undertaken with some form of benefit expected. The premise is that rather than characterizing altruism as genuine or not genuine based upon whether an act has the expectation of a benefit, it should be taken as a rule that all human endeavors are undertaken with some form of benefit in mind and that this is okay. The characterization of genuine or non-genuine, sincere or insincere must be awarded based upon the type of expected benefit."

Tags:altruism, character, sincere

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that the willingness of an individual to sacrifice him or herself for a friend is an example of altruism. The writer maintains that the evidence at hand suggests that altruism is diminishing and that the younger generation is less willing to make such a sacrifice than was true even a few years ago.

From the Paper
"Some evidence has been developed to suggest that altruism is part of the psychological makeup of the human being. Some question whether altruism is innate or learned, but no one seriously suggests that it does not exist. This raises the question of why its strength seems to be diminishing and raises the possibility that modern living has somehow started leaching this value out of the population."

Tags:altruism, change, time

Abstract
The paper offers a brief discussion of reciprocal altruism in the context of personal limitations, and provides examples of such a situation. The paper also applies several rules for behavior.

From the Paper
"Reciprocal Altruism is an evolutionary based theory (see Trivers) involving an exchange of resources between two or more organisms. Kruger explains that this exchange involves providing some benefit or advantage to an organism with the expectation of reciprocation in the future. Conceptually, reciprocal altruism carries with it the idea of the limitations, be it an individual person or an individual species limitation to handle all circumstances and/or events that might arise, coupled with an implicit understanding that a 'tit for tat' strategy with another organism..."

Tags:reciprocal altruism, behavior

Abstract
This paper discusses altruism and some of the sociological theories that are used to explain acts of altruism. The paper maintains that only the social-cognitive theory of altruism can explain why there are so many examples of extreme, yet commonly shared moments of altruism, where people risk their lives to help others, as well as examples of people in the same society that show extreme selfishness. The paper discusses the firefighters and citizens that risked their lives to save strangers in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11th in New York City as examples of altruism and the lack of aid given victims of Hurricane Katrina as an example of selfishness. Social-cognitive theory is used to explain both types of responses.

From the Paper
"Philosopher Peter Unger points out that while most people would argue that it is a moral obligation for a person to jump into a river and muddy their clothes to save a drowning child, if they are physically capable of doing so, millions refuse to give to charity. "The Envelope. In your mail, there's something from UNICEF. After reading it through you correctly believe that, unless you soon send in a check for $100, then, instead of each living many more years, over thirty more children will die soon". But people throw the UNICEF envelope out and buy a new pair of shoes instead."

Tags:genetic, background, and, indifference, physically, capable, altruistic, impulse

Abstract
The paper researches the degree to which pure altruism, untainted by the selfish issues of group identity or personal gain, may indeed exist. The paper discusses the difficulty in attempting a definition of altruism and illustrates the differences between practical altruism and pure altruism. The paper looks at human activity towards animals and contends that we are not being altruistic for alternative reasons. The paper maintains that there is a uniquely inexplicable altruism at work present in those who have dedicated their lives to volunteering with animal rescue, caring for sick or injured animals, or otherwise sacrificing personal time, money and effort for animals.

Outline:
Introduction
Literature Review
Research Design

From the Paper
"The recent events with Hurricane Katrina sparked a nation-wide charitable reaction. Individuals and private organizations rushed to the rescue with a speed that put the tax-payer supported local and national governments to shame. While systems specifically designed to serve and protect their citizens struggled to do so, thousands of altruistic individuals moved immediately to the rescue. People across the country opened their hearts to those displaced by the hurricane in a truly spectacular way, many times crossing the usual borders of race and socioeconomic status to volunteer their efforts and their money."

Tags:selfishness, kindness, charity

Abstract
This paper explains that altruism can be motivated by an incredible variety of different factors, including empathy, guilt, heredity, childhood experience and a need for self-actualization. The author points out that altruism also can be viewed from an evolutionary perspective in which natural selection most likely favored reciprocal altruism. The paper asserts that, through all the deterministic factors that shape altruism, human beings still have some capacity to freely choose to love and care for another human being simply because they recognize the common humanity that we all share.

From the Paper
"Unfortunately, altruism and empathy are often limited by our inability to recognize ourselves in those who are different from us. For example, people in Western countries became much more interested in donating money to the Southeast Asian tsunami relief efforts only after reports of Western tourists who had been affected by the disaster began to surface. Although we should be able to empathize with people based solely on the emotions we all share, people tend to feel the need to identify with a person in some other way before they experience empathy on a level deep enough to create altruism."

Tags:empathy, prosocial behavior, evolutionary freud maslow

Abstract
This paper explains that reciprocal altruism is a feature of socialization based on a system of reward and punishment. The author points out that reciprocal altruism appears to be an adaptive human behavior because it occurs in situations far beyond kinship and even in situations that do not result in an immediate reward for the altruistic act. The paper relates that altruism can be evaluated in terms of a cost-benefit analysis in that the altruistic act is a risk with potential or actual costs, which are weighted against the benefits of the altruistic act both for the recipient and the actor.

From the Paper
"Reciprocal altruism can be conveniently framed in terms of game theory and the "Prisoner's Dilemma". The "Prisoner's Dilemma" accounts for the obvious complexity involved in the evolution and development of cooperative behavior in human societies. Participants base their decisions to cooperate on selfish motives, a "tit for tat system". However, participants know that cooperation may result in benefits greater than the costs involved. An investment metaphor also works: individuals invest in altruism to the extent they can bank on receiving returns."

Tags:cooperation, survivalism, reward, punishment, cost-benefit

Abstract
This paper examines, through collected evidence, whether or not altruism can occur under the premise of evolutionary biology. It explains what evolutionary biology is and then explains the concept of altruism. It then goes on to explain why altruism is a paradox for evolutionary biology. The paper presents theories on altruism in an attempt to explain and minimize this paradox.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Background
Methods
Discussion

From the Paper
"There are many different results that are possible within this experiment. First, the expected result is that the majority of individuals will answer that they would act altruistically. However, they could act altruistically in some cases, as when they are giving change back to others, but selfishly when it comes to saving a drowning person and risking their own lives. Another scenario is that they could act selfishly when they are in the room by themselves, but when they are doing so in conjunction with someone else, they might be motivated by the visual sign of someone else to be altruistic. I argue that in most cases individuals will be altruistic and that they are altruistic because it is a reciprocated trait. When it comes to the questions of whether they would act altruistically knowing that the other person would not do the same. I believe the majority of individuals will still act altruistically. Although this result might differ from person to person."

Tags:Darwin, ethology, sacrifice

Abstract
This paper explains how the movie "Pay It Forward" and the author's experience in the grocery store demonstrate that a little bit of kindness towards someone may not be so much in the grand scheme of things but can make a difference to that person and to society. Next, the author relates that the concept of social responsibility is different than altruism because it deals with society on a much larger scale than just doing a nice favor for someone. The paper concludes that the author thinks that if people genuinely are caring and if more people did nice things for one another by paying a favor forward, then the world could be a much better place.

Table of Contents:
The Movie
My Experience While Grocery Shopping
Altruism, Social Responsibility, and Codependency
Altruism and the Human Condition

From the Paper
The older woman in front of me was trying to purchase her groceries with her electronic benefits transfer card (EBT) which in the state of North Carolina takes the place of paper food stamps and checks. I guess for people on welfare in North Carolina there is a certain day of the month that the money gets placed into the account because when the woman at the register tried to put her card through it was denied for insufficient funds. The two women got to talking about what date she should be expecting her payment and how she was going to pay for her groceries, and without even thinking about it I had given the cashier my card and told her to place our orders together. The woman objected because I think that she felt embarrassed, but I let her know that I felt that any person would do the same thing for another person if they could and not to worry about it and to just help someone else out if you can at some point. The woman thanked me and left the store with her groceries and the cashier told me how nice that was of me to help a stranger out like that since her card was denied.

Tags:three welfare co-dependency simple, nurturing environment

Abstract
This paper discusses the prevailing theories of altruism and attempts to develop a better contextual understanding of its core concepts. It discusses whether altruism fits into evolutionary biology and shows how altruism helps us understand how to create greater cohesiveness in society as well as encourage pro-social behavior.

From the Paper
"Understand these evolutionary theories become crucial on a societal level to leverage the altruistic intent and evolutionary instincts within human beings. Societies and leaders need to understand that mutual altruism is the only way for the improvement of the group and the survival of the individual within the group context. By leveraging the knowledge of reciprocal altruism, leaders can create a convincing argument for why it is imperative for everyone to become active members of society. Kinship selection also helps in our understanding of group activity; leaders can utilize this theory to articulate a vision for the needs of a strong and interconnected community. Human beings as evolutionary creatures have highly evolved instincts for altruism. Perhaps one of the reasons that we have survived so long and past the prime of many other animals is our sense of altruism. Therefore to understand how altruism can help on a communal level, one only has to look at the sacrifices each individual makes in every aspect of community growth."

Tags:evolution, biology, nepotism