altruistic

Altruistic is an adjective describing actions or motives that benefit other individuals or groups at a cost to the actor. In ethics, altruism refers to concern for others that can motivate self‑sacrificial behavior, sometimes regarded as a moral obligation, and is often contrasted with egoism, which prioritizes one’s own interests. The term is used to describe both a motive (altruistic motivation) and a behavior (an altruistic act).

Etymology traces altruism to the French altruisme, coined in the 19th century by Auguste Comte, from altrui meaning “of others” and ultimately from Latin alter, “other.” In biology, altruism describes a behavior that reduces the actor’s own fitness while increasing the fitness of another. Explanations include kin selection, which favors relatives, and reciprocal altruism, which relies on future reciprocation. Altruistic acts are observed in many species, such as warning calls by sentinels, food sharing among primates, and worker behaviors in social insects.

In the social sciences, altruism is studied as prosocial behavior. Researchers distinguish true (psychological) altruism, driven by empathic concern, from actions that are costly but motivated by self-interest, social approval, or long-term gain (the “warm glow” or reputational benefits). The existence and extent of pure altruism remain debated, with theories and experiments exploring whether helping can be truly selfless or always indirectly beneficial to the actor.

Altruism is a widely used concept across ethics, psychology, biology, economics, and everyday language, reflecting a sustained interest in the welfare of others and the conditions that make helping more likely.