The Selfish Altruism

Selfish’ and ‘Altruism’ are two terms difficult to comprehend together. When we say ‘Joy of giving’ the joy is selfish and the giving part is altruistic. Researchers like E. O Wilson affirm from an evolutionary perspective that society needs this ‘Selfish altruism.’

What exactly is this selfish altruism? It’s as simple as ‘I give something to get something back’. An employee in the office helps another expecting to receive help when he needs it, a student helps his senior expecting him to return the favour, siblings cooperate in the house to survive against parents and so on. This makes the act of giving a choice made by the altruist and influenced by the capacities of the receiver to reciprocate.

If you are asking yourself the question “So is the act of selfish altruism really so altruistic?” then think about rewording it. “Is the act of Selfish altruism benefiting the society?” The answer would be positive. It’s a chain of altruism that we are creating. It’s a culture of altruism that one person builds and the rest of the society benefits. It’s like a good virus that spreads and spreads along with itself, happiness among the people who give it and receive it. When an employee at work helps another employee he feels the elation of being looked upon as a ‘helpful person’ and the person who receives help in turn would want to offer help to reduce the burden of obligation. He would look out for opportunities to reciprocate. The altruism would benefit this relationship until they decide to break the chain.

In its crudest form, Social Psychologists say that ‘altruism’ is never completely selfless because it gives the altruist a sense of satisfaction of giving. There can’t be a better way to be happy and make others happy too. Let’s be selfish and yet spread a smile by giving something today in the hope of creating a new chain of altruism.

We at Mumbai Smiles, wish all of you a week full of smiles- for yourself and for spreading smiles to those around you.

Tell us about something you did this week that brought a smile to another face including your’s. Write to us at communication@mumbaismiles.org and we will try and spread a smile on your face by publishing your story on our blog.

PS: we will be able to publish three stories out of those that come in to us.