The Selfishness Of Selflessness

Is Altruism Inherently Self-Serving?

C. J. Mattison

ALTRUISM WHICH IS TRADITIONALLY UNDERSTOOD as disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others is a concept that appears to encapsulate selflessness and noble intentions devoid of personal desires to benefit one’s own circumstances. Upon examination of the reason that people may foster altruism, one can argue that the concept is inherently self-serving at its core.  

This idea of altruism, based upon internal desire for egoism, posits that the majority of human actions, including seemingly selfless acts, are ultimately motivated by self-interest and for the benefit of one’s own situation in life. 

One of the key notions that embodies this notion is that the social benefits of altruism may be ultimately beneficial to an individual. Through the supposedly ‘selfless concern for others’ an individual’s relationships and overall respect and reputation may benefit themselves in various social contexts. For example, in a professional environment, helping another colleague may foster financial gain or increased social status and reputation which may elevate an individual’s status within a company and subsequent benefits of a positive reputation.  

Moreover, engaging in altruistic behaviours may be beneficial to an individual in the psychological sense. Studies have proven that through engaging in acts of kindness and helping others, dopamine is released which allows individuals to feel a sense of pleasure, motivation and satisfaction. Through this release of dopamine and endorphins in the brain, an individual may be fulfilled with a sense of fulfilment and overall self-service to the individual’s emotional wellbeing. In this view, people are inclined to help others, not only for the purpose of their own wellbeing but also to experience satisfying emotions and to reinforce their own self-esteem and sense of purpose. 

So is altruism fostering fake relationships? Studies have proven that in the last 30 years, the number of people who say they don’t have a single close friend has quadrupled. Although this friendship recession would be hard to pinpoint directly to altruism being self-serving, I think it may have played a role. In a global climate that’s facing continuously more challenges such as global warming, Covid, inflation, it’s my belief that individuals are becoming more driven by beneficial relationships and opting into relationships that benefit them such as those that increase an individual’s social status, financial power or other metrics of success, rather than friendships in their purest forms based purely around fulfilment. 

It’s noteworthy to point out, however, that although altruism may have self-serving aspects embodied within its core, it can still have significant benefits for society as a whole. Altruism can foster a supportive and compassionate social environment which may contribute to the creation of a culture which values kindness and benevolence. Being on the receiving end of altruism may lead to increased empathy and compassion for others and make individuals feel accepted by society.