Reciprocal Altruism
The Basic Idea
Let’s be honest here. You’ve probably covered for a friend or sibling while they snuck out to a party past curfew. When you agreed to this scheme, what was the first thing that crossed your mind? Maybe you thought “this is a stupid idea, I could get in trouble”. But maybe the gears started turning: “If I do this right now, they’ll help me out in the future.”
This idea of making a sacrifice to receive a later payment is known as reciprocal altruism. While altruistic behavior is characterized as making sacrifices for others due to our care for their well-being, reciprocal altruism occurs when an individual acts altruistically in hopes of equal-value repayment in the future.1, 2
Perhaps the most legitimately dispiriting thing about reciprocal altruism is that it is a misnomer. Whereas with kin selection the “goal” of our genes is to actually help another organism, with reciprocal altruism the goal is that the organism be left under the impression that we’ve helped; the impression alone is enough to bring the reciprocation.
– Robert Wright
About the Author
Adrienne Fu
Adrienne Fu is a student at McGill University studying Economics, Computer Science, and Psychology. She is passionate about behavioural economics, particularly its intersection with consumer decision-making and UX Design. Outside of the (virtual) office, she enjoys film photography, reading, and taking care of her (many) plants.
