Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Egoism and Altruism

Egoism and Altruism

Voluntary behavior with the intent to help other people is called prosocial behavior. Why do people help other people? Is personal benefit such as feeling good about oneself the only reason people help one another?

Altruism

Altruism

Altruistic behaviors are “unselfish” behaviors—those that help another individual at the expense of the individual carrying out the behavior. Despite the negative consequences for the altruistic animal, these behaviors are thought to have evolved for several reasons.

Inclusive Fitness

Inclusive Fitness

Most altruistic behavior—in which one animal helps another at a cost to themselves—occurs between relatives. Scientists think these altruistic behaviors evolved because they increase the inclusive fitness of the animal providing help.

Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other

Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other

According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.

Nonconscious Mimicry

Nonconscious Mimicry

Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.

Empathy

Empathy

Some researchers suggest that altruism operates on empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person’s perspective, to feel what he or she feels. An empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help (Batson, 1991). Empathy can be expressed in several ways, including cognitive, affective, and motor.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Virtual telementoring to instruct selective dorsal rhizotomy technique in a resident cadaver laboratory at Philippine General Hospital.

Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics·2026

Same author

Computed Tomography Angiography in Surgical Planning for Deep Brain Stimulation Is Associated With Reduced Rates of Symptomatic Tract Hemorrhage: A Single Institution Retrospective Analysis.

Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.)·2026

Same author

Cradle-to-Grave Lifecycle Analysis of U.S. Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle-Fuel Pathways: A Greenhouse Gas Emissions Assessment of Current (2021) and Future (2035) Technologies.

Environmental science & technology·2026

Same author

Demographic and social determinants of the interval from symptom onset to diagnosis of pediatric brain tumors: a study of the Connecticut Tumor Registry.

Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics·2025

Same author

Activating antiviral immune responses potentiates immune checkpoint inhibition in glioblastoma models.

The Journal of clinical investigation·2025

Same author

Gut microbiome strain-sharing within isolated village social networks.

Nature·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

Context modularity of human altruism.

Marcus Alexander¹, Fotini Christia

¹Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. marcalex@stanford.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|December 14, 2011

Summary

Ethno-religious diversity can hinder cooperation, but integrated institutions enable sanctions to restore altruism and cooperation in diverse groups. This study experimentally demonstrates the power of integration in diverse societies.

Area of Science:

Social Sciences
Behavioral Economics
Sociology

Background:

Ethno-religious diversity is often linked to societal conflict and cooperation breakdown.
Existing research overlooks the crucial role of the institutional environment in mediating diversity's impact.
Historical examples show thriving diverse communities, suggesting diversity does not inherently prevent cooperation.

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally investigate the role of institutional environments in fostering cooperation within ethno-religiously diverse groups.
To test whether sanctions can promote cooperation in diverse settings and under what conditions.
To provide empirical evidence on how integration can overcome diversity-related cooperation challenges.

Main Methods:

Conducted a public goods game experiment in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

More Related Videos

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Published on: January 19, 2019

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice

Published on: November 22, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Published on: January 19, 2019

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice

Published on: November 22, 2024

Involved participants from distinct ethno-religious groups (Catholic Croats and Muslim Bosniaks).

Manipulated institutional environments to assess the effectiveness of sanctions in integrated versus segregated settings.

Main Results:

The ability to sanction is critical for achieving cooperation in diverse groups.
Sanctions were effective only within integrated institutional environments.
Sanctions failed to promote cooperation in segregated institutional settings.
Integrated institutions facilitated cooperation by enabling altruism in diverse groups.

Conclusions:

Institutions of integration are essential for harnessing human altruism and promoting cooperation in diverse societies.
Experimental evidence from a real-world setting confirms the importance of institutional design.
Overcoming cooperation challenges in diverse populations requires fostering integrated environments.