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Unselfish traits and social decision-making patterns characterize six populations of real-world extraordinary altruists

Author

Listed:
  • Shawn A. Rhoads

    (Georgetown University)

  • Kruti M. Vekaria

    (Georgetown University)

  • Katherine O’Connell

    (Georgetown University)

  • Hannah S. Elizabeth

    (Georgetown University)

  • David G. Rand

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Megan N. Kozak Williams

    (Linfield University)

  • Abigail A. Marsh

    (Georgetown University)

Abstract

Acts of extraordinary, costly altruism, in which significant risks or costs are assumed to benefit strangers, have long represented a motivational puzzle. But the features that consistently distinguish individuals who engage in such acts have not been identified. We assess six groups of real-world extraordinary altruists who had performed costly or risky and normatively rare (

Suggested Citation

  • Shawn A. Rhoads & Kruti M. Vekaria & Katherine O’Connell & Hannah S. Elizabeth & David G. Rand & Megan N. Kozak Williams & Abigail A. Marsh, 2023. "Unselfish traits and social decision-making patterns characterize six populations of real-world extraordinary altruists," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37283-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37283-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Batson, C. Daniel, 2010. "The Naked Emperor: Seeking A More Plausible Genetic Basis For Psychological Altruism," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(2), pages 149-164, July.
    4. Adam Waytz & Ravi Iyer & Liane Young & Jonathan Haidt & Jesse Graham, 2019. "Ideological differences in the expanse of the moral circle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
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    6. Alexander Peysakhovich & Martin A. Nowak & David G. Rand, 2014. "Humans display a ‘cooperative phenotype’ that is domain general and temporally stable," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, December.
    7. Kruti M. Vekaria & Kristin M. Brethel-Haurwitz & Elise M. Cardinale & Sarah A. Stoycos & Abigail A. Marsh, 2017. "Social discounting and distance perceptions in costly altruism," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 1(5), pages 1-7, May.
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