http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11641621/
In this article, an experiment showed that the capacity for altruism emerges as early as 18 months of age in humans. In the experiment, a researcher dropped an object on the floor. Each of 24 toddlers offered to help the researcher by picking up the item off the ground if he appeared to need help and would only help him as long as it didn't seem like he purposely threw the object on the ground. They immediately offered to help without expecting a praise or reward in return, thus exhibiting altruism. The question is, could this be regarded as true altruism? Or do humans as young as 18 months of age have alterior motives for their actions? The psychologist said that, to be altruistic, babies must have the cognitive ability to understand other people’s goals and possess “pro-social motivation,” a desire to be part of their community.
L.K. A08149476
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