Altruistic behavior is when people help others without expecting anything in turn, and sometimes even at a cost of themselves. This essay will compare and contrast two theories that explain altruism in humans. Those two theories are the kin selection theory, which is a biological explanation, and the empathy-altruism theory, which is a cognitive explanation.
First approach to explain altruism is the kin selection theory that based on evolution theory.
The kin selection theory is about the idea that individuals tend to sacrifice themselves for relatives in order to pass their genes to next generation. To support this theory, Sime (1983) conducted a research about the role of kin-selection in altruistic behavior. Sime interviewed people who survived from fire and assumed that, when people faced with threat, people not only take care of themselves but also try to maintain kinship. Sime looked at the way that people exited the building during the emergency like fire. When the fire started, two thirds of the families emerged together but only one quarter of the non-families emerged together. Additionally, when members are separated, half of the families willingly re-enter the building to find their family member, while none of the non-families did. This study shows that people are more willing to sacrifice for their relatives in order to keep their genes until next generation. Another study that explains kin-selection theory is Burnstein et al. (1994). Burnstein et al. …show more content…
asked participants to display their willingness to offer help for different people in a various situations. The results showed that participants tend to help direct relative than a stranger. Moreover, younger relatives were more likely to be helped than older ones based on the research. This implies the motivation of human that humans want to make certain about passing their genes for the future.
Practical studies support kin selection theory that people show preference for helping close blood relatives. However, this theory cannot explain why people help individuals who are not relatives. In order to improve this limitation, Batson et al. (1981) presented their empathy-altruism theory. While kin selection theory explains why we tend to help people who are related, empathy-altruism theory explains why we help unrelated people as well. Empathy-altruism theory is based on the idea that when people observe others in situation that others need help, people offer help because that situation may produce empathic concern or personal distress. In order to support empathy-altruism theory is Toi and Batson (1982) conducted an experiment to find out effects of empathy in university students. They asked participants to listen to a recording of an interview with student named Carol. According to the report, Carol broke both of her legs because of car accident. Based on the participants’ groups that they divided before, high empathy group asked to focus on Carol’s emotion such as her current situation. In contrast of that, low empathy group asked to concentrate on information that presented by Carol. The results showed that high empathy group had more possibility to offer help for Carol than low empathy group. Based on their researcher, Toi and Batson concluded that high levels of empathy are the most significant factor in expressing altruistic behaviors. Both theories explain altruism in humans but only explain in some extent and still have limitations so
First approach to explain altruism is the kin selection theory that based on evolution theory.
The kin selection theory is about the idea that individuals tend to sacrifice themselves for relatives in order to pass their genes to next generation. To support this theory, Sime (1983) conducted a research about the role of kin-selection in altruistic behavior. Sime interviewed people who survived from fire and assumed that, when people faced with threat, people not only take care of themselves but also try to maintain kinship. Sime looked at the way that people exited the building during the emergency like fire. When the fire started, two thirds of the families emerged together but only one quarter of the non-families emerged together. Additionally, when members are separated, half of the families willingly re-enter the building to find their family member, while none of the non-families did. This study shows that people are more willing to sacrifice for their relatives in order to keep their genes until next generation. Another study that explains kin-selection theory is Burnstein et al. (1994). Burnstein et al. …show more content…
asked participants to display their willingness to offer help for different people in a various situations. The results showed that participants tend to help direct relative than a stranger. Moreover, younger relatives were more likely to be helped than older ones based on the research. This implies the motivation of human that humans want to make certain about passing their genes for the future.
Practical studies support kin selection theory that people show preference for helping close blood relatives. However, this theory cannot explain why people help individuals who are not relatives. In order to improve this limitation, Batson et al. (1981) presented their empathy-altruism theory. While kin selection theory explains why we tend to help people who are related, empathy-altruism theory explains why we help unrelated people as well. Empathy-altruism theory is based on the idea that when people observe others in situation that others need help, people offer help because that situation may produce empathic concern or personal distress. In order to support empathy-altruism theory is Toi and Batson (1982) conducted an experiment to find out effects of empathy in university students. They asked participants to listen to a recording of an interview with student named Carol. According to the report, Carol broke both of her legs because of car accident. Based on the participants’ groups that they divided before, high empathy group asked to focus on Carol’s emotion such as her current situation. In contrast of that, low empathy group asked to concentrate on information that presented by Carol. The results showed that high empathy group had more possibility to offer help for Carol than low empathy group. Based on their researcher, Toi and Batson concluded that high levels of empathy are the most significant factor in expressing altruistic behaviors. Both theories explain altruism in humans but only explain in some extent and still have limitations so