Parochial Altruism
Description
From the Wikipedia:
“Parochial altruism is a concept in social psychology, evolutionary biology, and anthropology that describes altruism towards an in-group, often accompanied by hostility towards an out-group. It is a combination of altruism, defined as behavior done for the benefit of others without direct effect on the self, and parochialism, which refers to having a limited viewpoint. Together, these concepts create parochial altruism, or altruism which is limited in scope to one's in-group. Parochial altruism is closely related to the concepts of in-group favoritism and out-group discrimination.Research has suggested that parochial altruism may have evolved in humans to promote high levels of in-group cooperation, which is advantageous for group survival. Parochial altruism is often evoked to explain social behaviors within and between groups, such as why people are cooperative within their social groups and why they may be aggressive towards other social groups.
Parochial altruism refers to a form of altruistic behavior that is exhibited preferentially towards members of one's own group, often accompanied by hostility towards those outside the group. This phenomenon is characterized by a combination of "in-group love" and "out-group hate". The preference towards one's in-group often manifests as cooperation with and sacrifice for members of the same social, ethnic, or cultural group. By contrast, hostility towards an out-group often manifests as aggression and discrimination towards members of different social groups. Parochial altruism is distinct from more general altruism, which is characterized as behavior done to benefit another individual, with no benefit to the self. The balance between preferential treatment towards an in-group and hostility towards an out-group is important for understanding intergroup dynamics.
More broadly, altruism can manifest in different forms, ranging from small acts of kindness, like helping a stranger or a friend in need, to more significant sacrifices, such as donating an organ to save another's life. Evolutionary biologists, ethologists, and psychologists have investigated the roots of altruism, suggesting that it may have evolved as a means of enhancing the survival of one's kin (kin selection) or as a strategy to receive a reciprocal benefit from another individual (the norm of reciprocity).Cultural and societal norms significantly influence altruistic behavior, as evidenced by the diversity of altruistic norms and expressions across different human societies. Altruism is often contrasted with ethical egoism, the view that individuals should act in their own self-interest. The complexity of human motivation makes the distinction between altruism and self-interest difficult to identify, and this is an ongoing debate within psychology and philosophy alike.”