Biology of human altruistic behavior
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33910/2687-1270-2026-7-1-89-109Keywords:
altruism, prosocial behavior, neurophysiology, neurobiology, neuroimaging, evolutionary biology, behavior analysisAbstract
Altruistic behavior plays an important role in the survival and well-being of humans and other species. Extensive scientific inquiry into altruism has yielded a large amount of experimental evidence and numerous theoretical approaches to explaining this phenomenon. However, a definitive scientific consensus on a number of critical questions remains elusive. This article presents a systematic examination of the problem of altruistic behavior across three distinct levels of analysis: evolutionary, behavioral, and neurophysiological. We commence with a discussion of relevant terminology and selected philosophical approaches to explaining altruism that relate to contemporary concepts. The article subsequently expounds upon potential evolutionary mechanisms underpinning the origin of prosocial and altruistic behaviors: kin selection, reciprocal altruism, sexual selection, group selection, and gene-culture coevolution. Thereafter, explanations of altruism from the perspective of behavior analysis are considered. The principal focus of this work is on the neurophysiology of altruism. The article discusses the neural mechanisms that subserve altruistic behavior and its associated processes, reviewing findings obtained through functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. Furthermore, certain neurochemical aspects of altruism and morphological features of the brains of altruists are delineated. The article also considers the phenomenon of altruistic punishment. The article underscores the necessity for further investigation into altruism, emphasizing the paramount importance of an integrative, interdisciplinary approach in future research.
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