When a psychopath, narcissist or someone with a Machiavellian personality does a good deed they only do so because they expect something in return.
We see this all the time with psychopaths, what not many people understand is that it is behavior not only seen in what we call psychopaths, but fish, bats and monkeys as well.
We see this all the time with psychopaths, what not many people understand is that it is behavior not only seen in what we call psychopaths, but fish, bats and monkeys as well.
What is it?
Reciprocal Altruism is the idea that helping others will benefit me in the future because if i need their help in the future they will help me because I helped them. Reciprocal Altruism is unique and related to Psychopathy, narcissism and a Machiavellian type of personality because for it to be reciprocal altruism, a party must sacrifice something to assist another, knowing they will be helped in the future.
How does it relate to our behaviors?
When people help other people because they are truly altruistic and unselfish we see that as normal behavior however,when someone does something and expect something in return we see that as a sign of abnormal behavior. We see it as a selfish behavior and label it a sign of psychopathy or narcissism. While true altruism exists, sometimes humans and non-human animals will do something for someone for selfish reasons simply because it benefits them not because they are kind.
This is not to say that being sneaky is acceptable, but it does show that doing nice things for selfish reasons may be a trait of Psychopathy, Narcissism and a Machiavellian personality in the Psychology field, but in the Biology field it is a trait of survival.
Bats, fish,birds and even primates such as monkeys demonstrate altruistic behavior towards their peers knowing their peers will assist them in the future. Payback is usually in the form of protection from predictors or assist in obtaining food.
As humans we may see this behavior as selfish, we should only do things for other people out of the kindness of our heart. We have been trained that Psychopaths, narcissists and people with a Machiavellian personality help people out for their own selfish needs and psychopaths must be stopped. Nevertheless, helping others knowing they will help you is embedded in not only psychopaths, but the animal kingdom as well. It is a trait that has helped with survival and getting basic needs met. As people we see someone sacrificing something of theirs to help someone else we see it as a genuinely kind gesture, and we are hurt when it is not. Especially, if a kind gesture is has been given through the sacrifice of one own's property,etc. We see this a lot with Psychopaths, Narcissists and a Machiavellian personality taking risks with business deals,etc to help a person out only to expect something in return in the future or because it will benefit them somehow. As stated earlier, we see this as a flaw but in the animal kingdom it is a benefit.
Although (I believe) true altruism does exist in the non-human animal kingdom and the animal kingdom, we must also observe what we think is selfish human behavior does happen and does have benefits as observed in the animal kingdom. We need to understand that although it is a tough fact to swallow, selfishness does not only exist it serves a beneficial purpose for humans and non-humans alike.
This is not to say that being sneaky is acceptable, but it does show that doing nice things for selfish reasons may be a trait of Psychopathy, Narcissism and a Machiavellian personality in the Psychology field, but in the Biology field it is a trait of survival.
Bats, fish,birds and even primates such as monkeys demonstrate altruistic behavior towards their peers knowing their peers will assist them in the future. Payback is usually in the form of protection from predictors or assist in obtaining food.
As humans we may see this behavior as selfish, we should only do things for other people out of the kindness of our heart. We have been trained that Psychopaths, narcissists and people with a Machiavellian personality help people out for their own selfish needs and psychopaths must be stopped. Nevertheless, helping others knowing they will help you is embedded in not only psychopaths, but the animal kingdom as well. It is a trait that has helped with survival and getting basic needs met. As people we see someone sacrificing something of theirs to help someone else we see it as a genuinely kind gesture, and we are hurt when it is not. Especially, if a kind gesture is has been given through the sacrifice of one own's property,etc. We see this a lot with Psychopaths, Narcissists and a Machiavellian personality taking risks with business deals,etc to help a person out only to expect something in return in the future or because it will benefit them somehow. As stated earlier, we see this as a flaw but in the animal kingdom it is a benefit.
Although (I believe) true altruism does exist in the non-human animal kingdom and the animal kingdom, we must also observe what we think is selfish human behavior does happen and does have benefits as observed in the animal kingdom. We need to understand that although it is a tough fact to swallow, selfishness does not only exist it serves a beneficial purpose for humans and non-humans alike.
References
Alley Dog. "Reciprocal Altruism." Reciprocal Altruism definition | Psychology Glossary. Accessed November 16, 2017. https://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Reciprocal%2BAltruism.
Levi, Margaret. "2017 : WHAT SCIENTIFIC TERM OR CONCEPT OUGHT TO BE MORE WIDELY KNOWN?" Edge.org. January 01, 1970. Accessed November 16, 2017. https://www.edge.org/response-detail/27170.
Khan Academy. "Reciprocal altruism, vampire bats, and relatedness (practice)." Khan Academy. Accessed November 16, 2017. https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/social-sciences-practice/social-science-practice-tut/e/reciprocal-altruism--vampire-bats--and-relatedness.
Brembs.net. "Reciprocal altruism in primates." Reciprocal altruism in primates. Accessed November 16, 2017. http://brembs.net/ipd/primats.html.
Rational Wiki. "Reciprocal Altruism." Http://www-personal.umich.edu/~kruger/. Accessed November 16, 2017. http://www-personal.umich.edu/~kruger/ep5.html.
Psychology Wiki. "Reciprocal altruism." Psychology Wiki. Accessed November 16, 2017. http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Reciprocal_altruism.
trendy sparky. What Is An Example Of Reciprocal Altruism?Video. trendy sparky, July 23, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHxQdpcRt6M
Shomu's Biology. YouTube. September 16, 2015. Accessed November 16, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5ugJ1YpdD0.
Alley Dog. "Reciprocal Altruism." Reciprocal Altruism definition | Psychology Glossary. Accessed November 16, 2017. https://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Reciprocal%2BAltruism.
Levi, Margaret. "2017 : WHAT SCIENTIFIC TERM OR CONCEPT OUGHT TO BE MORE WIDELY KNOWN?" Edge.org. January 01, 1970. Accessed November 16, 2017. https://www.edge.org/response-detail/27170.
Khan Academy. "Reciprocal altruism, vampire bats, and relatedness (practice)." Khan Academy. Accessed November 16, 2017. https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/social-sciences-practice/social-science-practice-tut/e/reciprocal-altruism--vampire-bats--and-relatedness.
Brembs.net. "Reciprocal altruism in primates." Reciprocal altruism in primates. Accessed November 16, 2017. http://brembs.net/ipd/primats.html.
Rational Wiki. "Reciprocal Altruism." Http://www-personal.umich.edu/~kruger/. Accessed November 16, 2017. http://www-personal.umich.edu/~kruger/ep5.html.
Psychology Wiki. "Reciprocal altruism." Psychology Wiki. Accessed November 16, 2017. http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Reciprocal_altruism.
trendy sparky. What Is An Example Of Reciprocal Altruism?Video. trendy sparky, July 23, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHxQdpcRt6M
Shomu's Biology. YouTube. September 16, 2015. Accessed November 16, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5ugJ1YpdD0.