1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910741188203321

Titolo

Altruism in Cross-Cultural Perspective / / edited by Douglas A. Vakoch

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, NY : , : Springer New York : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2013

ISBN

1-4614-6952-X

Edizione

[1st ed. 2013.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (189 p.)

Collana

International and Cultural Psychology, , 1571-5507

Disciplina

171.8

Soggetti

Cross-cultural psychology

Biology—Philosophy

Biological psychology

Cross Cultural Psychology

Philosophy of Biology

Biological Psychology

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Altruism in Its Personal, Social, and Cultural Contexts: An Introduction -- Conceptual Aspects of Altruism in Cross-cultural Contexts.- Cross-cultural Variation in Altruism: Traditional Parental Manipulation and Ancestor-Descendant Conflict -- Guatemalan Adolescents’ Reports of Helping in Urban and Rural Mayan Communities -- Do We Really Like the Kind Girls and Animals?: Cross-cultural Analysis of Altruism in Folktales -- Cultural Values and Volunteering: A Cross-cultural Perspective -- Daoism and Altruism: A China-USA Perspective -- Altruism in Indian Religions: Embracing the Biosphere -- Altruism—Renouncing the Renunciant: A Discussion on Desire and Selflessness -- Spiritual Transformation and Healing: Is Altruism Integral? -- Altruism in Human Ritual -- Epilogue. To Give or Not to Give: Confessions of a Humanitarian Aid Worker.    .

Sommario/riassunto

Doing for others--altruism--is arguably one of the most human of our activities. Arguable too are the origins of altruism: biology, psychology, culture, all of the above? Researchers have been exploring all three in intriguing lines of inquiry. But as the world grows smaller, culture grows as a major dimension in how, and why, people help others. The contributors to Altruism in Cross-Cultural Perspective employ a wealth



of methods to examine selfless acts on a global scale. Extensive discussions help to define this elusive concept, in some cases expanding it to include empathy, cooperation, generosity, and Eastern and Western spirituality. Considerations of gender, urban/rural life, family relationships, and other key variables are included, as are relevant findings from evolutionary psychology and neuroscience. And inroads are made in answering such longstanding questions as why altruistic acts in one culture may not be perceived as such in others, and the costs of altruism to those who give. Among the topics featured:  Cultural values and volunteering: A cross-cultural perspective. Embracing the biosphere: Altruism in Indian religions. Cultural variations: Traditional parental manipulation and ancestor-descendant conflict. Do we really like the kind girls and animals?: Altruism in folktales. Daoism and altruism: A China-USA perspective. Mesoamerican religious festivals: Altruism in human ritual. To give or not to give?: Confessions of a humanitarian aid worker. Altruism in Cross-Cultural Perspective is timely reading for cross-cultural scholars and researchers of altruism and other pro-social behavior. Researchers from various disciplines will be especially interested in the book, including psychology, anthropology, sociology, biology, communication, philosophy, religious studies, gender studies, and bioethics.