Human Altruism: Alive And Well

A report in the September, 28, 2001 issue of the Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association explains why human altruism, the concern for the welfare of others, is so evident in people's responses to horrible events such as the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Dr. Beth Seelig, a researcher at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, says that human altruism is such a strong concept that it can overcome a person's instinct to survive. Witness the selflessness that police officers, firefighters and passengers of the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania displayed in the service of others.

People have "learned this from being comforted themselves and knowing how good it feels," she said.

Helping others also gives people a self-esteem boost that Seelig describes as normal, healthy and comforting. This may explain why people take jobs such as firefighters and police officers in which they routinely help others.

She also pointed out that "ordinary" people frustrated by not being able to do anything responded by donating record amounts of blood, money, time and energy to help in the aftermath of the attacks. "I think ordinary people are not so ordinary," Seelig said, "but sometimes it takes a great tragedy to bring (this) out."

By way of commentary, whether people save a life by running into a burning building, donating blood or referring someone to a chiropractor, it warms our hearts and fills our souls with joy to see it in such abundant action. One hopeful message we can take from these attacks is that human beings are not only guided, but comforted by helping others. Keep up the good work, folks. We're all in this together.