Aditya B., Teen Rep Membership/Engagement
Dec 3, 2025
A deep dive into the evolutionary, psychological, and social reasons why humans engage in altruistic behavior and how YOU can give back to your community.
Have you ever wondered why over one fourth of Americans ages 16 and older — equivalent to 75.7 million people — collectively volunteered for 5 billion hours in 2023 (USA Facts)? Well, there are so many different, yet powerful causes! From evolutionary reasons to social pressures, we will examine the human characteristic of altruism and why people do it.
What is Altruism?
Before we get into the reasons for altruism, let’s define it. According to Merriam-Webster, altruism is the “unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others”. In simple terms, it's giving back to the community for the sole reason of helping people! But why do people feel the need, or want, to help others? Let’s find out!
Evolving into Humanitarians
Humans don’t just randomly choose to behave altruistically; it’s in their blood, (or more accurately, their evolution). There are two main evolutionary factors that, when combined, add to the philanthropic behavior of humans:
Theory of Future Interaction - This theory argues that people help others because of their chance of meeting in the future. It’s like the classic saying, “I scratch your back, you scratch mine”. When you help someone, there is an expectation that if you ever need help in the future, then that same person will help you if they can. This is a trait that evolved ever since our ancestors lived in small groups, where they all knew they would see each other again, even on the daily. So, to keep good relations in such small groups, they helped each other out, which kept the peace and created a stronger bond between all of them (Nature).
Group Selection - This additional idea, when combined with the Theory of Future Interaction, provides another perspective. When you help others without asking anything in return, it shows that you are a cooperative person who will do anything, even if it hurts you, to help others or your team. This creates a healthier environment and makes your whole team more cooperative (Nature). A team that works better together and reciprocates each others’ kindness will have a high chance of survival because its ability to work so well together makes it stronger.
Psychology leads to Selflessness
Psychology also plays a large part in volunteerism. One largely accepted idea as to why people psychologically want to help others is the empathy altruism hypothesis (BetterHelp). This theory explains that people are compelled to help others because they are naturally empathetic. People have a specific part of the brain called the right amygdala which helps us feel certain emotions and perceive them in others( aka being empathetic towards others (Walden University)). When someone understands how others are feeling in their time of misfortune or despair, this pushes them to help without expecting anything in return.
People also may act altruistically for a reward that is internal, not external. When people act selflessly, both endorphins and dopamine are released into some persons' brains, giving them positive feelings. People who receive this rush get a reward in the form of happiness and self-satisfaction. But whether those hormones are released into your brain or not, at least you know that you did something good that benefitted someone else in need!
Sociological Self-Sacrifice
Finally, altruism can actually be an outcome from the pressures, or familiarity, of society. Societal expectations pressure many people to be altruistic, even if they don't truly want to (BetterHelp). Social norms are the expectations that society has on a person. Even if these expectations aren’t explicitly said, many people act in goodwill because they think that it is something that society expects of them. Other people have a reputation or “public image” that they need to keep up. So, if they saw a homeless person on the street, they might perform an act of “ volunteerism” with the intent of people seeing this act, and having a more positive view of the giver. This is called “performative altruism”(Sustainability Directory).
However, others might not act based on their reputation, and rather because of their familiarity with the person receiving their help. According to Psychology Today, people are more likely to help close friends or relatives because they would rather contribute to them succeeding rather than the success of others. This is related to another theory called kin protection, where you want to see people that are close to you(friends, family, relatives, etc.) succeed in life and protect them, similar to the idea of group selection, where those close to you act as your “group”.
Ways you can Volunteer
As Mensans, it is our responsibility to give back to the community any way that we can. Whether it is volunteering for a few hours, or simply holding the door for others, kindness always goes a long way. There are many ways to help those around you:
Join a beach cleanup to keep our coasts safe and healthy!
Volunteer at a food bank to help those who suffer from hunger.
Make literacy kits to educate people and fuel their passion for reading!
Key Takeaways
As you can see, there are many different factors that can cause people to volunteer for the community. Whether it is because you feel empathy for someone, or if you are helping those you know, giving back to your community is a great way to help people in need and create stronger connections across the world. So next time you see a volunteer opportunity, get on board with the 75.7 million Americans, and help create a better world for all of us!
ABOUT ADITYA:
Aditya is a high school student and our Youth Team’s Cabin Crew. He loves reading, acting, and playing guitar. If he doesn’t have his head stuffed in a book, he is probably doing schoolwork or competing in a speech and debate tournament. See Aditya’s Volunteer Spotlight HERE!