What You Should Know

Our ancestors lived longer because they worked together, and this is still true in our complicated modern society. One sign that altruism is at least partly innate is that studies show even very young children feel good about sharing.
Studies indicate a higher propensity to assist close relatives compared to strangers or more distant relatives, as they share a greater proportion of our genetic material. According to the theory of kin selection, aiding them enhances the survival and reproduction of our genes.
Doing good things for other people is also good for us. A lot of research shows that we often feel a warm, happy glow after helping someone else. This is sometimes called a "helper's high."
Most of us are at least a little selfless, but some people are "extreme" altruists, like those who are happy to give their kidneys to people they don't know. Studies indicate that extreme altruists exhibit differences in the size of their amygdala compared to others.
If you measured altruism on a scale, psychopaths, who don't care about other people's feelings and are generally cold-hearted, would be at the very bottom.
Being altruistic isn't just about being nice. It can also mean doing something to help someone who is being bullied or harassed by calling out the person who is doing it, which is sometimes called "altruistic punishment."

Now is the time to change

Change your mind: If you look at people who need help in a more positive light, you can turn your doubt into compassion.
Feel better: It makes us feel bad to see other people struggle, but studies show that doing good things for others makes us feel better.
Think about getting therapy or coaching. A professional could help you find and use your natural kindness or generosity.