Altruism and Reproductive Limitations

• Published in: Evolutionary psychology Vol. 7; no. 2
• Main Authors: Fitzgerald, Carey J., Colarelli, Stephen M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.04.2009; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: altruism; reproductive limitations; inclusive fitness
• ISSN: 1474-7049; 1474-7049
• DOI: 10.1177/147470490900700207

We examined how different types of reproductive limitations — functional (schizoid personality disorder and schizophrenia), physical (malnutrition), and sexual (bisexuality and homosexuality) — influenced altruistic intentions toward hypothetical target individuals of differing degrees of relatedness (r = 0, .25, and .50). Participants were 312 undergraduate students who completed a questionnaire on altruism toward hypothetical friends, half-siblings, and siblings with these different types of reproductive limitations. Genetic relatedness and reproductive limitations did not influence altruistic decision-making when the cost of altruism was low but did as the cost of altruism increased, with participants being more likely to help a sibling over a half-sibling and a half-sibling over a friend. Participants also indicated they were more likely to help a healthy (control) person over people with a reproductive limitation. Of the three types of reproductive limitations, functional limitations had the strongest effect on altruistic decision-making, indicating that people were less likely to help those who exhibit abnormal social behavior.