Altruism

Altruism is the concern for the general welfare of others. This is a traditional value in many cultures and a core aspect of most religions. It is the motivation to provide something of value to someone other than to the self selflessness. The altruistic personality is the qualities that a person possesses that cause them to help others.

The feel good do good effect has had an impact on the likelihood that someone can help a complete stranger. Good moods make people look on the bright side of life where people tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. A helping person prolongs a good mood by being a Good Samaritan which can make people feel awesome inside and experience fantastic feelings. Good moods can increase the amount of attention people pay to themselves and make people more likely to behave according to their own values and ideals.

When people are in a bad mood they are more likely to help others because they feel a sense of guilt. People can act on it because they think that good deeds can cause bad deeds cancel out. When they do something that made them feel guilty then doing something good balances out the good and reduce their feelings of guilt.

Other factors that may influence whether one is more apt to help others are the person’s gender, if they feel the person is a member of their in-group, relatives, rural living, Spanish speaking, if they can determine if it is an emergency and non-church goer. Research has indicated that women are much more likely to help than males in the long term, but males are more likely to help out in the short term. People that are members of the in-group feel like they have more in common and feel more connected to others. If they feel more connected they are more likely to help. Relatives are more likely to help relatives or someone that they know well than a stranger. People living in rural society are more apt to help others than people living in large urban societies. Researchers contribute this to being over whelmed by the quantity of people and the desire by urban people to distance themselves from others. Spanish speaking cultures are more connected and therefore are more helpful. If a person can determine that an emergency does exist they are more apt to help than when the person is not sure if there is a need for help or others are just having a good time. It has been discovered that the guilt and church attendance seems to be directly connected. If a person goes to church more often they are much more likely to help others if they think someone is watching or if they have not been to confession. The act of attending confession helps relieve much of their guilt and therefore they are less likely to help others.

There are many factors besides personality that form the reaction of others in response to other’s needs.