Altruistic Personality

Essay # 62417

Philosophy
Psychology > Behaviorism
Sociology

A discussion in relation to the research whether an altruistic personality exists.

2,561 words () | 25 sources | MLA | 2004 United Kingdom

Paper Summary:

This paper presents and discusses the evidence for and against the supposition that an altruistic personality exists. It examines whether there really is such a thing as an altruistic act, which stems from a desire to help someone for its own sake or do people do things, which in the end promote their self-interest. It looks at how this question has been a subject for debate for many years, by moral philosophers, sociologist and psychologists.

From the Paper:

"The socio-biological perspective considers that behaviour which pre-disposes people to act in a pro-social way is inherited. Whilst the Darwinian view of survival is concerned with the strengthening of physical attributes, socio-biologists take this further by claiming that behaviour is also inherited. Wilson (1975) argues that it is not just physical characteristics, which evolve but also behaviour. This behaviour generates a genetic instruction, which attempts to preserve their offspring, and relatives who share their genetic make up, (Haralambos 1995). Based on this perspective relatives have more chances of survival. "