Table of ContentsIntroductionDefining Altruism and Helping OthersCulture of Helping Between Animals and HumansConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionAltruism can be defined as the behavior of an animal that is not beneficial to itself or may be harmful to itself, but which benefits others. For a long time, it was believed that only humans were capable of performing selfless acts, such as helping others in need, but as the world advances, we know that altruism is everywhere. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Defining Altruism and Helping Others Perhaps the most common form of altruism is a parent protecting and nurturing their children. Birds starve themselves to regurgitate food into the gaping mouths of their children. Such behavior goes against our natural instinct for survival, but a man will always go out of his way to help a blind or elderly person cross the road. But is altruism really what it seems? Do we really help others without expecting anything in return? So why do we judge others or develop a slight dislike or even the slightest thought that comes to mind "how thankless, he didn't even bother to say thank you" when they refuse to be obligated to you in exchange for your help? Many argue that pure altruism cannot exist, these actions may seem altruistic, but they always have selfish reasons at their core. Lions will work in packs to be able to kill an antelope even if they fully realize that they must then share the meat. Their chances of survival increase when they work together. Culture of mutual aid between animals and humans Animals tend to help members of their own family. Again, this is not some sort of deep bond that family members share with each other, but an instinct for survival. The bond a mother shares with her child is once again due to survival, but this time on a genetic level. You are more likely to donate to your own family members while you send away a beggar who might need much more help. You are acting in the interest of your own genes, or even yourself. By helping a loved one, you allow your genes to be passed on and therefore to survive, which makes it easier to track down prey. There are exceptions to the third rule. We might give a beggar a chance and sacrifice our time to help someone change a flat tire. But even that is part of our efforts to help us survive. When we help others, we can often expect to be helped in return. This “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch your back” attitude is also found in the animal kingdom. Monkeys eat each other's ticks so they can have their own ticks removed. It should be emphasized that this is on a subconscious level, which is why we have often misinterpreted many of our own "species" as altruism. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion When we realize that even something as true and real as altruism has selfish motivations, we wonder if humans can ever show pure kindness without any expectations? With this, I leave you, hoping that you will continue to love your offspring and help strangers; whatever your motivations. Works Cited Batson, CD (2011). Altruism in humans. Press of, 46(1), 35-57.