Psychologists at Georgetown University mapped the minds of extreme altruists (organ and bone marrow donors, lifeguards, and volunteers) and found that they acted without expectation of reward and did not see themselves as important people. Research published in the journal Nature Communication.
The scientists administered a series of personality tests to more than 300 extreme altruists. The group included donors who donated kidney, liver, bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cells to strangers, as well as humanitarian workers and volunteer rescuers.
Scientists have discovered that altruists are extremely generous people and differ from typical adults in being selfless. In other respects they were no different from most people. Altruists were not nicer or conscientious. Plus, they weren’t even more compassionate than the average person. Apparently, they had great respect for the welfare of foreigners and communities in general. They also had a low sense of self-importance and showed no desire to use, exploit, or harm others for their own gain.
“These results highlight some common assumptions that human nature is selfish. While egocentric motives for prosocial behavior certainly exist—for example, helping others to get something in return or boosting one’s reputation—our data suggest that self-sacrificing actions in the real world, in extreme situations It even shows that it can be selfless, the scientists explained.