Genes kinda look like peas.
New Scientist magazine explores ten mysteries of things humans do or have that don’t seem to make evolutionary sense. Things like pubic hair. And being nice. You can guess which one caught our attention here at Altrooist! But since we’re about being nice we’re gonna talk about that one.
Altruism is when someone does something to benefit another with no benefit to themselves, and maybe even at harm to themselves. Being a recovering philosophy major, I can recall many passionate discussions in my 20s about the existence of altruism. With my misunderstood hair-do, 40 pound book bag and serious doubts if I could make it through a philosophy graduate program, I didn’t think altruism was real. There was always a benefit to the doer. But maybe that was my AVRP1 talking.
AVPR1 is a gene that is tied to kindness. When it’s longer than average being nice is a biological preference. Coming up short? You might be mean, dictator-like and all around ruthless. According to a study if you have a lengthy AVPR1 you get more of a reward in the feel-good centers of the brain when you are kind. You get a bigger kick out of social bonding, a greater high when you click with someone. Given all the good brain chemicals being released when you go out of your way to be altruistic, it’s no wonder that an AVPR1 afflicted philosophy student would argue that the doer gets a benefit — because as a doer, I was getting a benefit.
But what if that conversation was with an AVPR1 challenged student. She’s not getting the same reward for being nice. Brain chemicals might be released but could go relatively unnoticed or have no effect. Her decision to donate blood could seem like a burden, something she gets no reward from at all. Where my brain is skipping through a field of wildflowers after doing something nice, her’s could be hanging out in the library.
So now 15 years later, my answer for if altruism exists is “It depends.” Which, really, is pretty much the smartest answer for any philosophical conundrum anyway.
I’ve watched folks improve their mood by buying someone else coffee. I’ve spent vacations doing good deeds in unfamiliar cities only to find that’s the quickest way to make them familiar. Genetically lucky? Maybe. But worth a try? Absolutely.
