12 characteristics of an altruistic person

Who said that human beings are basically all selfish? Many believe that the tendency to be egotistical is common and even has a sound scientific basis, but knowledge that come from the set of psychological, ethological, evolutionary and neuroscience studies show what contrary. In our relationships there is a rich team of biological predispositions that favors bonds with our peers and encourages us to take care of each other.

This baggage ranges from crying to smiling, from physical contact to kissing, from gestures of comfort to the emotional reflection both in the most immediate forms of contagion and in the most evolved forms of empathy. For this reason, in this Psychology-Online article we are going to discover some advice on how to be an altruistic person.

Index

1. what is altruism
2. Help with our presence
3. Listen to others
4. Make a kind gesture a day
5. Give something to someone who needs it
6. volunteer
7. Give an unexpected gift to someone we love
8. Learn a skill and teach it
9. Open your own horizons
10. Think about how others feel
11. Being altruistic even when no one notices
12. Take an altruistic person as a role model
13. Take care of yourself

There are many definitions of altruism, sometimes even contradictory. The term derives from the Latin alter, and was coined in the 1930s by Auguste Comte, one of the fathers of sociology and founder of positivism. In his own words, what it means to be an altruistic person is "the elimination of all selfish desire and self-centeredness, as required by a life dedicated to the good of others".

In general, altruism indicates the attitude and behavior of someone who has the quality (moral) to be interested in the well-being of their alike, both in terms of survival and quality of life, members of their own species or even of other species.

Normally this is considered a clearly positive quality, as it indirectly improves their chances of survival and well-being. If applied to humans, it is considered a moral quality.

One way to learn what altruism is be available to help to a relative or friend in difficulty: just bring him medicine if he is sick, go shopping when he is too busy, accompany him to a medical examination if he does not have a driving license. All small things that, however, when done with perseverance and dedication make us more selfless people.

We all have days when we would like to turn off the phone and close the world; however, doing it too often means you can't be a stable presence for friends and family when they need your help. Find ways to be present and help the people around you who trust you in times of need.

It may seem trivial, but most of us don't listen when others speak to us. Whether it's a phone conversation or in person, most of the time we get distracted thinking about our own problems and commitments. To be an altruistic person we have to stop and give time to whoever wants to talk to us: participatory listening It also teaches to be less selfish.

If you want to work on this aspect in your daily life, at Psychology-Online we can help you with this article on Active listening: characteristics, exercises and examples.

To learn to be an altruistic person, a useful exercise is make a meaningful gesture every day: give up your seat on a train or bus to a person in difficulty, keep the door open and make an old man pass, smile at a person who is on the street or in a public place and who seems sad. These are small gestures, which do not cost anything economically but can mean a lot to those who receive them.

We are not necessarily talking about money, but above all about time and concrete help: Whether it's giving away old clothes to those who might need them or serving a meal in a community, it's everywhere possible to give others a little time.

There are really many forms of volunteering and you are not obliged to always guarantee your presence, but doing it when you can not only helps feed our altruistic love, it also allows the less fortunate to have something else.

Most associations are happy to receive a service even once, but yearn to have regular and constant volunteers they can count on to building relationships with clients: reading with children at school, taking the elderly to appointments, translating for medical appointments, tutoring a refugee family, etc. There are endless ways to volunteer, so identify a need and determine what you can do to contribute.

Volunteering is the best way to practice altruism. When you give your time and skills away for free, what you get in return is the gratification of having done your part to help your community. Studies show that volunteering can increase happiness and promote longevity.

Another characteristic of altruistic people is give a gift spontaneously. It is about offering a pizza to a friend, a movie ticket to her sister, a book to her partner are all altruistic gestures, especially if they are done at unexpected times and not because they are a party favor specific. An unexpected gift gives joy to those who receive it, but also to those who give it!

This simple action unites us to each other in ways that can last for decades: it's the superpower of altruism. Sports, trampoline tricks, chocolate mousse, writing, history, gardening, science, rock collecting, making jam, woodworking, home repair work, raising chickens, sewing, family history, dancing, calligraphy etc. anything is fine. And don't be afraid to learn something new!

Being an altruistic person means having the ability to see beyond your personal concerns Y empathize with others, even with those you have never met. If your problems and your situation consume you, you will not have the time or energy to be selfless. Having a strong awareness of the world outside your head is the first step to becoming less selfish and nurturing your unselfish love.

Empathy and being an altruistic person go hand in hand. If you understand how a person feels, it will be easier to act selflessly with him; and you can empathize even with people you have never met. Put yourself in other people's shoes: If you were in the same situation, how would you feel? How would you like to be treated?

Altruistic people are not kind and generous because they expect to be recognized, but they do. because it's the right thing to do, and because it feels good to help others when you have the chance to do it. Donating anonymously is a good way to be generous no need to get something in return.

Being an altruistic person isn't always pleasant, and it's usually worth putting the needs of others before your own, but often it is difficult to act in the interest of another when you also have to satisfy your needs. That is why having models of altruism could be of great help.

Being altruistic has a high emotional price if you don't give yourself time to get your energy back. If you find yourself always taking care of the needs of others and saying "yes" when you need a break, then maybe you need to take a step back and focus on yourself a bit. If you're not physically and emotionally healthy, you won't be strong enough to "be there" for others, so make sure you take care of yourself properly.

Check our post how to love yourself where we give you practical advice to take care of yourself every day.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to be an altruistic person, we recommend that you enter our category of Personality.

• Bonino, S. (2012). Altruistic per nature. Alle radici della socialita positive. Rome: Laterza.
• Fracas, B. (2020). Come I will stop altruism. Recovered from: https://www.amando.it/salute/psicologia/come-imparare-altruismo.html