Altruism and Service Learning

 Good ideas are common ---what is uncommon is people who will work hard enough 

to bring them about.    Buddha

SERVICE LEARNING is a type of learning tool to empower you to implement solutions to problems in your own community, or even globally.  It is a student-centered process where you learn about a particular issue, place, or problem, then figure out how to take action in a positive way.  Then, you actually do it!  You do the research and take action to help solve the problem or educate others on how they can help. 

ALTRUISM is defined as the belief or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others.  It simply means caring about the well-being of people without expecting anything in return.  There are three basic components of altruistic behavior:
             1.  Perceiving the need of another person
             2.  Being motivated by empathy to help the other person
             3.  Addressing the need by taking action without expecting a reward or recognition in return

Many people believe that it is in our human nature to care about the well-being of others.  Others believe that all human beings are 100% self-interested.  In other words, even if someone helps another, they are doing it for their own interest and essentially for the wrong reasons.

Reflection:
Do you agree or disagree that all human beings are 100% self-interested in that we only care about ourselves?  Why or why not? 

Assignment:
Check out the link under the side bar from Psychology Today.  Take the online quiz on Egoism/Altruism and comment on what you have learned about yourself.