Question

do you agree with lincoln that prosocial behavior is always motivated by self-interest, or do you disagree and think that it can sometimes be motivated by altruism? why or why not?

Answer 1

The debate between prosocial behavior and altruism

Step-by-step explanation:

There is an ongoing debate about whether prosocial behavior is always motivated by self-interest or if it can sometimes be motivated by altruism. Some researchers argue that prosocial behavior is driven by empathy and a genuine desire to help others, which is known as altruism. Others suggest that even seemingly selfless acts of kindness have underlying self-interested motives, such as feeling good about oneself or maintaining a positive self-image. While it is challenging to determine the true motivation for helping, the existence of both self-interest and altruism in individuals suggests that prosocial behavior can arise from a combination of these factors.

While there is a debate whether true altruism exists, as some researchers argue that we may also derive benefits from altruistic acts like feeling good about ourselves, it is noteworthy that these feelings can be the consequence rather than the cause of the altruistic behavior. Hence, the position that all helping behavior is self-interested does not fully capture the complexity of human motivations.