Empathy-altruism

Empathy-altruism is a form of altruism based on moral emotions or feelings for others.

Social exchange theory represents a seemingly altruistic behavior which benefits the altruist and outweighs the cost the altruist bears. Thus such behavior is self-interested. In contrast, C. Daniel Batson holds that people help others in need out of genuine concern for the well-being of the other person.[1] The key ingredient to such helping is empathic concern. According to Batson's empathy-altruism hypothesis, if someone feels empathy towards another person, they will help them, regardless of what they can gain from it.[2] An alternative hypothesis is empathy-joy, which states a person helps because they find pleasure at seeing another person experience relief.[3] When a person does not feel empathy, the standards of social exchange theory apply.

  1. ^ Aronson, E.; Wilson, T. D.; Akert, A. M. (2005). Social Psychology (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-178686-8.
  2. ^ Batson, C. Daniel; Batson, Judy G.; Slingsby, Jacqueline K.; Harrell, Kevin L.; Peekna, Heli M.; Todd, R. Matthew (1991). "Empathic joy and the empathy-altruism hypothesis". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 61 (3): 413–426. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.61.3.413. ISSN 1939-1315. PMID 1941512.
  3. ^ Batson, C. D.; Batson, J. G.; Slingsby, J. K.; Harrell, K. L.; Peekna, H. M.; Todd, R. M. (1991). "Empathic joy and the empathy-altruism hypothesis". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 61 (3): 413–426. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.61.3.413. ISSN 0022-3514. PMID 1941512.