PSYB10H3 Chapter 10: PSYB10 Chapter 10
6 Jun 2011
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Document Summary
Any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person. Altruism: the desire to help another person, even if it involves a cost to the helper; it does not include helping somebody for personal gain, only helping for the desire to benefit someone else. This theory does not account for altruistic behaviour, as it often involves behaviours that risk the individuals well being. Kin selection: the idea that behaviour that helps a genetic relative is favoured by natural selection. Via kin selection, the chances of your genes being passed to the next generation is enhanced not only by your children, but the children of your relatives. According to the evolutionary theory, those who follow kin selection are more likely to survive than those who do not, so over the millennia, it has been ingrained in human behaviour. Research does not fully support this; emotional closeness, rather than genetic relatedness, is a better predictor of altruism.
