Is Anyone Selfless?
Everyone is not selfless. Many people partake in duties that touch others in divergent ways like monetary contributions and tangible donations. In the United States, the scale of private household contribution is enormous, totaling 89% of the total donation (Ariely, Bracha & Meier, 2009). The existing different charitable contributions besides other real-life donations provide a picture of selfless and motivation. The United States’ job sector also records close to 9million volunteer full-time jobs emanating from the desire of human social approval. Selflessness has conditioned human beings to act in prosocially hence building positive images of humanity.
Scientific studies (Costly signaling theory) have theorized that men are more generous in women’s presence as opposed to their fellow males (Iredale, Van Vugt & Dunbar, 2008). Men find it easy to make a contribution in the presence of the opposite sex, unlike when observed by the same sex. Men’s drive to contribute in the presence of the opposite sex is a mechanism defining their ego. Men generosity can also be pegged on mating signals’ evolution, which they do not express near fellow men.
The study of human behaviors through etiquette and effort has hypothesized that internal models of constant motor control use can aid selflessness (Rosenbaum & Santamaria, 2011). Some everyday physical acts, such as handing over a fork to other people, can be used to reduce the rotation of two people; thus, increasing forms of physical expression and respect. The increasing need to build good coexistence in families and surroundings has motivated human beings to develop selflessness and assist others in need.
References
Rosenbaum, J. P. S. D. A., & Santamaria, J. (2011). Etiquette and Effort: Holding Doors for Others. Psychological Science.
Iredale, W., Van Vugt, M., & Dunbar, R. (2008). Showing off in humans: Male generosity as a mating signal. Evolutionary Psychology, 6(3), 147470490800600302.
Ariely, D., Bracha, A., & Meier, S. (2009). Doing good or doing well? Image motivation and monetary incentives in behaving prosocially. American Economic Review, 99(1), 544-55.