ALTRUISM

PPT on Study of the most fascinating ,entrancing phenomenon found in nature.

1. INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL TRIBAL UNIVERSITY AMARKANTAK M.P. TOPIC - ALTRUISM SUBMITTED BY – PRADDUM KUMAR NAMDEV 17140007 1

2. CONTENTS What is Altruism? History of Altruism Theory of Altruism kin selection Reciprocal Altruism 2

3. THE ALTRUISM 3

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5. What is Altruism ? Helping behaviour existing between social animals. Increases the fitness of other animal by sacrificing the fitness of their own. Animals refers to an individual acting in a way that will decrease its own survival chances, but improve the survival chances of another individual. When one person helps another person for no reward, and even at some cost to oneself. 5

6. History of Altruism The French philosopher named August Comte coined the word Altruism as altruisme He derived it from Italian word altrui, which in turn derived from Latin word alteri which means “ other people ” or somebody else. However all human kind has been demonstrating altruism since the world’s beginning. Altruism is studied today by anthropologists, political scientists, economists, biologists, theologians, psychologists and more. 6

7. Arguments Some believe that altruism is human nature, while others disagree. Some believe that Altruism is hereditary, while others disagree. Some scientists believe that each animals purposely show Altruism in their behaviours. Many believe that all human beings are self interested. In other words, even someone helps another, they are doing it for their own beneficial purpose and essentially for the wrong reasons. 7

8. Who demonstrate Altruistic behaviour ? Immediately, when thinking about Altruism, we of famous person such as Martin Luther king , Mother teresa and even celebrities who are doing good around the world. Fact of the matter is however, that you do not need money to be Altruistic. You simply need to sacrifice your time. 8

9. Altruistic Animals Vampire bats will regurgitate and feed blood that they have collected from their prey to hungry conspecific(Wilkinson ,1990) Ground squirrels will warn others of the presence of predator, even though making such a call may draw the attention of the predator to itself(Sherman,1977) In many species of social insects , workers forgo reproduction entirely (they are sterile) 9

10. Contd... 10

11. Theories of Altruism KIN SELECTION (proposed by- Hamilton1964) closely related individuals are more likely to be benefitted from Altruistic behaviour than distantly related one. e.g. Helping behaviour in nest of white-fronted birds on Kenya these birds live in extended multi generational family group of 3-17 birds. Interaction among members of the family follow the prediction of theory closely. Siblings helps each other but cousins are unlikely to be helped, and are treated like non-relatives. 11

12. Contd... By helping relatives to reproduce (even at the cost to your own reproductive success) then your shared genes will spread. Assisting a close relative thereby increases one’s ‘inclusive fitness’. Using mathematical modelling, Hamilton showed that altruistic gene can spread through the population if it causes an individual to help a relative, whenever the cost to individual is offset by the reproductive benefit gained by the receiver. Hamilton Rule = rB> c Where r = coefficient of relatedness. B = benefit to the recipient c = cost to the giver 12

13. Kin selection in action Ground squirrel do not give an alarm clock every time the predator approaches. They only do so when there is large proportion of their relatives within earshot .(Sherman, 1977) Vampire bats are much likely to share their food with relatives than with non relatives (Wilkinson,1990) This theory explains the most puzzeling phenomenon- that of the sterile insects-by a genetic quirk they are more related to their sisters- than to their mothers or daughters. (Trivers & Hare 1976) 13

14. Kin selection experiment A very interesting experiment was demonstrated in 20o2 regarding kin selection by asking participants to maintain painful position. The longer they held the position the more money they would earn. In different conditions participants could earn money for individuals differing in relatedness. Themselves Parents or siblings Grandparents / niece / nephew, a cousin Unrelated friend The duration of maintaining painful position varied a direct proportion of relatedness, with more pain being sustained for closer relatives 14

15. Problems for kin selection Kin selection does not explain observed incidences of animals helping non relatives e.g. Unrelated chimpanzees come to one another ‘s aid when threatened. Human often engage in apparently altruistic acts such as: Blood donation Donating to charity Rescuing unrelated individuals Sacrificing their lives for moral or ethical principles 15

16. Reciprocal Altruism Proposed by Triver in 1971 Natural selection may creates psychological mechanisms designed to deliver benefited even to non relatives, provided that such actions lead to reciprocal beneficial actions in the future. e.g. People should be willing to forgive the theft of valuables provided that the thief returns a sum of money which is much more than the value of stolen items. 16

17. Contd... A social expectation in which we feel pressured to help others if they have already done something for us. E.g. If your friend loaned you money few weeks ago, you will probably feel reciprocate when he asks for loan of 1000 17

18. Conditions for reciprocal Altruism Individuals must associate for long-enough periods of time to develop reciprocal interactions The likelihood of one individual performing some social exchange with another should be predicted on the basis of their past associations. The roles of giver and receiver should reverse at least once 18

19. THANKYOU 19