Final answer:
The empathy-altruism hypothesis posits that empathy can lead to altruistic behavior, where one helps others driven by the desire to benefit them without expecting anything in return. This is exemplified in selfless acts where personal risk or cost is high, indicating a motivation that goes beyond self-interest or expectation of reciprocity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The empathy-altruism hypothesis suggests that when we feel empathy for another person, we may be motivated to help them altruistically, meaning we are driven by a desire to improve their well-being without expecting anything in return. This contrasts with egoistic motivation, where our helping behavior might be driven by self-interest, such as feeling good about ourselves or avoiding social pressure.
Thus, the statement that best describes the empathy-altruism hypothesis would be: a) Empathy leads to altruistic behavior, driven by the desire to benefit others without expecting anything in return. While after helping, individuals may experience positive feelings, the empathy-altruism hypothesis argues that this is a byproduct rather than the primary motivation for such behavior.
Examples of altruism can range from everyday acts of kindness to extraordinary acts of heroism, like those witnessed during the 9/11 attacks where individuals risked and even sacrificed their lives to help others without expectation of reward or survival.