The age of selfishness is upon us. Early on in the pandemic, many of us observed a rise in self-centred conduct. We might have dismissed it at the time as a fad that would pass. However, it hasn’t. The general state of behaviour appears to have changed profoundly, ranging from rudeness in grocery shops to doors closing in your face instead of being held open by a stranger. Reminders from airline pilots urging passengers not to be “selfish and rude” have gone viral.
Why do people nowadays seem to be acting so self-centred? Philosophers, psychologists, and general observers of human behaviour have studied selfishness for ages. It is well-recognised that periods of crisis tend to make us more prone to acting selfishly. And to top that off a “permacrisis” has been plaguing us in recent days.
In the case of COVID-19, it may have even altered people’s personalities, making younger adults less pleasant and more prone to stress, mistrust, and even neuroticism. The reason for this is believed to be the more flexible nature of personality in younger age groups and in the face of changes to the normative tasks associated with adulthood, such as adjusting to the workplace and forming relationships.
However, studies reveal that humans are predisposed to altruism and that it benefits us greatly. Understanding today’s social relationships and conflict in general requires an awareness of the healthy tension that exists between prosocial behaviour (i.e., a tendency toward generous behaviour) and selfishness.
Indeed, generosity and self-interest are inherent traits in human nature. Our success as humans depends on our evolved ability to work with others, even though a fight-or-flight instinct encourages self-preservation in situations where it could save lives. This implies that self-centred behaviour has inherent bounds and restrictions.
Defining selfishness and the costs associated with it
Selfishness is typically defined by psychologists using concepts from philosophy, economics, and evolutionary biology. In its most basic form, however, it is prioritising oneself over others—even at their price. This implies, presumably, that self-centred people make competing decisions that lead to increased personal benefit and seize more resources for themselves at the expense of others around them.
Even while acting selfishly seems to have many advantages on the surface, there are drawbacks that need to be taken into account. Despite the paradox, there is no empirical proof that self-interested action leads to better well-being. Selfish drive is, in fact, linked to poor relationships, physical health, and psychological well-being.
For instance, materialism is linked to harmful health habits like smoking and drinking alcohol, as well as poor self-appraisal and self-doubt. Focusing on impression control is linked to increased social anxiety, envy, and self-handicapping in addition to decreased life satisfaction.
Self-image preoccupation, on the contrary, is linked to higher rates of anxiety and despair as well as behaviours that harm one’s health, such as abusing drugs and failing to seek medical attention. Additionally, it forecasts a decline in relationship stability along with an increase in anxiety, relationship avoidance, and interpersonal conflict.
Giving time, money, or assistance to others has costs and benefits, of course, but we cannot and should not disregard the consequences of taking from others, especially in this day and age when we place such a high value on maximising welfare.
The range between self-centredness and altruism
Knowing the neuroscience underlying the selfish-selfless spectrum and how to refocus in order to enhance our well-being is beneficial. Rather than categorising people as “universally selfish” or “universally altruistic”, these labels actually represent extremes on the selfishness-selflessness spectrum that humans fluctuate across over time.
Additionally, elements like cognitive therapy, mindfulness training for introspection, and widespread social and cultural influences might have an impact on this spectrum. In order to help manage stress and sadness, several of these reward-activated compassion techniques are now making their way into standard therapeutic therapy.
It may seem difficult to increase prosocial conduct and decrease selfishness, yet both in the lab and in real life, it has been demonstrated to be achievable. According to a study, even 15 minutes of micro-interventions can, in as little as one week, boost prosocial behaviour, and decrease selfish behaviours. The result is dose-dependent. You become more used to and embody prosocial standards the more exposed you are to them.
Depending on your gender, you might feel even stronger personal gains. The brains of men and women respond differently to prosocial and selfish, or individualistic, behaviour. And researchers have shown that, for women, prosocial behaviour triggers an even stronger reward signal than it does for men.
A caveat to consider
“Healthy selfishness” refers to a healthy respect for your own health and happiness. While it might sound like an oxymoron, healthy selfishness can have a positive impact both on oneself and on others. Social decision-making is complicated. Even Adam Grant, an organisational psychologist at Wharton, cites the complex blending of selfless and selfish as “otherish” to reflect the porous concept of wise or healthy selfishness.
In the end, it might not be about doing away with selfishness completely, but rather about improving our own selfishness and developing a caring mindset to better balance the range of human behaviour.
Altruism and compassion are not fixed factory settings. Develop and apply these talents on a daily basis, and they guarantee to set off a positive chain reaction for you and everyone around you.
No, altruism still exists; it just needs a boost. And science assures us that everyone will gain. So go ahead, surround yourself with kindness, and begin putting it into practice right now. You may be taken aback by the favourable outcomes.
(Tashia Bernardus)